Utopia by Thomas More Political Science Political Ideologies Communism & Socialism

The name of this book has given an adjective to our language -we call an impracticable scheme utopian. yet, under the veil of a playful fiction, the talk is intensely earnest and abounds in practical suggestion. it is the work of a scholarly and witty englishman, who attacks in his own way the chief political and social evils of his time. . . .designedly fantastic in suggestion of details, utopia is the work of a scholar who had read plato's republic and had his fancy quickened after reading plutarch's account of spartan life under lycurgus. beneath the veil of an ideal communism, into which there has been worked some witty extravagance, there lies a noble english argument. -from henry morley's introductionthe novel was first published in 1516 in latin. sir thomas more (1478 1535), venerated by roman catholics as saint thomas more, was an english lawyer, social philosopher, author, statesman and noted renaissance humanist. he was also a counselor to henry viii and lord high chancellor of england from october 1529 to 16 may 1532. now best remembered for the lyrics of the minstrel boy and the last rose of summer. he was responsible, with john murray, for burning lord byron's memoirs after his death. in his lifetime he was often referred to as anacreon moore. as a poet, translator, balladeer and singer moore found fame. his work soon became immensely popular. but moore was far more than a balladeer. he had major success as a society figure in london, meeting the prince of wales on several occasions and enjoying in particular the patronage of the irish aristocrat lord moira.henry morley (1822 1894) was an english academic who was one of the earliest professors of english literature in great britain. morley wrote a popular book containing biographies of famous english writers. morley bought into an apothecary practice in madeley, shropshire, but it turned into a financial failure. in 1848, he established a school in manchester and started writing in his spare time. morley wrote some satirical articles that were published and gained the attention of charles dickens. at dickens' invitation, morley moved to london in 1850 to become an editor of and a contributor to dickens' publication, household words. when that publication dissolved, morley worked for its successor, all the year round. from 1859 to 1864, morley also edited and wrote for the examiner. from 1865 to 1889, morley served as professor of english literature at university college london, his students including the indian writer rabindranath tagore. noted for his knowledge of english literature, morley was considered to be an engaging and warm teacher. he also delivered popular lectures on literature in different parts of great britain. morley was the editor of two book series. morley's universal library, drawing on the concept of a universal library, was published from 1883. cassell's national library was published from 1886, totalling 209 weekly editions.