Thomas More

by Raymond Wilson Chambers

"To tell the life of Thomas More is no easy task. Erasmus said that he was not competent to portray More’s many-sided character; and where that subtle, mighty intellect felt abashed, a modern biographer may well fear to tread." Thomas More was born on 7 February 1478. Throughout his childhood he spent time in the household of John Morton, Archbishop of Canterbury and despite considering becoming a monk, he instead went on to become a lawyer at Oxford University like his father. A Renaissance humanist, now venerated by Roman Catholics as Saint Thomas More, he was a ‘man for all seasons’. From 1510-1518 he was one of Henry VIII’s most faithful civil servants, entrusted with acting as secretary, confidant, interpreter and speech writer. He was later knighted, became the speaker of the House of Commons and chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Throughout this time, More was also becoming a scholar in his own right, developing his own philosophies and maintaining a close friendship with Erasmus. His famed satire, ‘Utopia’, portrays a fictional island society that was greatly at odds with the realities of European politics in the last age of English medieval Catholicism. It was this work which would later form a large part of the trial against him. In 1535, More was executed on Tower Hill for alliances with the pope, criticism of the establishment of the Anglican church and condemnation of Henry’s divorce from Catherine of Aragon. A contentious and controversial figure, More died ‘for the right of the individual conscience, as against the State’. His place in history and the vastly turbulent period he lived through provide a rich and sensational narrative for readers and scholars alike. Raymond Wilson Chambers was a British literary scholar, academic and author. Associated with University College London, he studied under W. P. Ker and A. E. Housman and later served in WWI. He was a friend of J. R. R. Tolkien and went on to become Quain Professor of English at UCL. Chambers is known for his writings on a wide range of literary, historical and cultural subjects including A Study in Old English Heroic Legend, Ruskin (and others) on Byron and Chapters on the Exeter Book. Thomas More was awarded the James Tait Black Memorial Prize.

Genres: Biography, History, Tudor Period

436 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 1958

About the author

Raymond Wilson Chambers was a British literary scholar, author, and academic; throughout his career he was associated with University College London (UCL).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond...

Reviews

[Pete daPixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The reading of this book has been interrupted over the last week on account of my hectic fast paced life and other interests. On top of that old friends have visited and stayed for a couple of days, so distractions galore.
I would normally expect to complete this biography in a few days, in fact it has taken me twice as long to read through the four hundred pages.
'Thomas More' written by R.W. Chambers was first published back in 1935. The author was Professor of English at University College London. I have to say that from a Professor of English, this book provides a wonderfully enlightening view of Sir Thomas More, as well as his place in English history. Historians through the intervening centuries have labelled More as a bigot, a fool, a stubborn catholic martyr. Yet Chambers writes exactly as I think myself that, "We cannot enter into the minds of men of old unless we can think away everything that has happened since, and call up a mist over the face of time." Through many primary sources, some interpreted anew and for the first time, this biography of the 'man for all seasons' will elevate the understanding of More. There was a much greater depth to this ex-Chancellor of Henry VIII, than a man of principle who stood against the King's divorce from Catherine of Aragon and Henry's self elevation to 'head of the Church of England'. More was a humanist thinker and respected statesman throughout early sixteenth century Europe. As set out in his own writings of 'Utopia', his social, political and spiritual thought can be seen as being way ahead of it's time, and in many ways we still haven't caught up with the man. He was anti war, anti capitalist, a socialist for no class distinctions he wrote, "When I consider all these commonwealths which nowadays anywhere do flourish, so God help me, I can perceive nothing but a conspiracy of rich men, procuring their own commodities under the name and title of the commonwealth."
It seems to me that the 21st century could well do with more of More.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

436 pages

5 stars

I have been fascinated by Thomas More ever since I was a child at Catholic school. (That was a significant time ago.) I thought him a sincere and holy man. I didn't really know much about him other than he was elevated to sainthood in 1935.

Since then, I have learned a great deal more. More was to serve the King for several years. He was King Henry VIII's chancellor until he ran afoul of Henry's “Great Matter” in 1535. More refused to accept Henry as head of the Church of England. He firmly believed that religious matters, such as they were in the 16th Century, were and should be under the auspices of the Catholic Church. Only the pope had the authority to dissolve marriages or proclaim church doctrine. More's unyielding belief in this led to his death by beheading in 1535.

There were many other facts stated by Mr. Chambers in this book which I knew, but I knew little about his early life. I did not know about More's internal battle between joining the monastic life and doing what his father want – to become a lawyer.

I appreciate Mr. Chambers' addition to the argument of Henry vs. the Pope who would not or could not help him with his “divorce” from Catherine of Aragon. This is a point of view that I had not considered. That so much of England's wealth and soldiery went to propping up the Papal States and then the Pope wouldn't assist Henry in his time of “need.” No wonder Henry went off. Interesting point of view. I shall ponder this.

He goes on to say that this account for Henry's rage at More. This, I do not follow. Is this because More was such a defender of the Papacy?

We get a glimpse of More's duties for the king as well as his private life. Apparently, his second wife Alice was quite the woman. We learn a great deal about what his contemporaries thought of him. He was greatly respected for his learning, quick mind and his wry sense of humor. He educated both sons and daughters in several subjects, including what we now call the classics. (Although he was criticized for educating the daughters in this manner.)

Perhaps it should be mentioned the apparent dissonance of More's actions in being such a good Catholic and yet he burned those he saw as heretics. Perhaps he just saw it as his duty, a part of being a good Catholic and following the teachings of the Pope and his clergy. It does rankle. However and doesn't seem consistent with his belief system.

This is a wonderful book to read. The style is easily accessible to all and is written in an interesting and conversational manner. It is not at all dry or stuffy as sometime biographies are. I truly enjoyed this book and will always treasure the additional tidbits that I have learned about this great man.

[Len · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author clearly has an admiration for More. Yes he was an intellectual, learned in the law, devout in religion, a friend of Erasmus. As Robert Whittinton wrote about More in 1520: “...as time requireth, a man of marvellous mirth and pastimes, and sometime of as sad gravity. A man for all seasons.” OK, I know More makes me look like a weak-kneed, heretical apostate; one mention of the executioner's block and I would have agreed and signed to anything. However, at what point do firmly held religious beliefs cloud a human being's judgement? More had a wife and family who, on his death, could be subjected to any amount of royal displeasure and possible abject poverty. No amount of good nature, good humour and devotion to justice and religious orthodoxy could persuade me to leave them to cope as best they may. But then I am definitely not the equal or even the equivalent of Sir Thomas More.

[Golden · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thomas More is awesome. One of the great men ever. This book was well researched, but the style was terrible for me. I'm not a big fan of British non-fiction style, and this further underscored my distaste for it. On top of that, it was written in the 1930's and has a overly formal academic tone. I'm going to try to find a well-reviewed bio of More and read that instead.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peter Ackroyd life of Thomas More is a journey worth traveling. He has More speak in the old English which at first is a challenge but by the end you become proficient at it. I enjoy this book immensely and have a full picture of Henry the Vlll most loyal servant. Truly a Man of all seasons.

[Jonathan]

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