For All Seasons: Selected Letters of Thomas More

by Stephen Smith (Editor)

For the first time in forty years, the selected letters of St. Thomas More-son, husband, father, friend, statesman and martyr-are now available in this newly edited volume for the contemporary reader. Moving from the days of his youth to the startling drama of his final years, this collection serves as a "life in letters" and offers the reader fresh insight into More's education, formation, and character, visible both in season and out of season, in little matters as well as great controversies.

The first English writer to use the word "integrity," More struggled to live as well as he wrote, with personal virtue, solid piety, and a well-formed conscience. These letters reflect all the facets of his humanity and personality, and through them, one may begin to glimpse the living face of this famous "man for all seasons," as he was known even in his own time.

In addition to the letters from Thomas More, the book offers introductory notes on the family members, friends, and other historical figures relevant to his life's history.

361 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2012

About the author

Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name
For other authors of this name, see:

Stephen Smith - American Surgeon, Public Health
Stephen Smith - African Studies
Stephen Smith - Contemporary Non Fiction, Journalism

Reviews

[Sean Wieszczek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this might be my first time diving into a compilation of someone’s letters, and although there are some letters in here that are not super exciting individually, I am grateful for the portrait of STM that they as a whole painted in my mind.

Unlike Roland (see last review), here you will find a man of true virtue, which shines forth most brilliantly toward the end of his life in the Tower of London. Here, he suffers abandonment of friends, loss of possessions, declining health, and the tarnishing of his reputation which had been justly built up over decades. Through all this however, he continues to pray for those who persecute him, remain faithful to his conscience which he has taken great measures to inform, and thank God for all he has lost, for to him at this point Christ is life and death is gain. Here is a model of integrity that we would all do well to imitate

To his daughter Margaret Roper while in the Tower of London (1534):

“And finally Margaret, this I know well: that except by my own fault he will not let me be lost. I shall therefore with good hope commit myself wholly to him. And if he allows me to perish eternally for my failings, then I still shall serve for a praise of his justice. But in all honesty, Meg, I trust that his tender pity shall keep my poor soul safe and make me praise his mercy.”

[Fr. Jeffrey Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent and well-sourced collection of More's letters, with very helpful introductions placing them in context. After reading this book, I have a much better feel for his life and temperament. I was left wanting more in every aspect - more of his letters to his children, more of his disputes with the emergence of Protestantism, more on his trial. The man is incredibly interesting, and presenting his life through letters is very helpful.