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Utopia

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( 81,207 ratings, 4,969 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Utopia by Thomas More is a philosophical exploration depicted through the narration of a traveller who describes an ideal, fictional island society. It delves into themes of justice, politics, and social organisation, contrasting the narrator's depiction of Utopia with the flaws and corruption in European societies of the time. The book encourages readers to consider the meaning of perfection and the complexities of creating an ideal state.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you enjoy thought-provoking explorations of ideal societies and the complexities of human nature. It offers insightful commentary on social, political, and philosophical issues through a richly imagined world that challenges conventional ideas about justice and governance.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

New to the Penguin Pocket Hardbacks series - books that have changed the history of thought, in sumptuous, clothbound editions.

In Utopia, Thomas More gives us a traveller's account of a newly discovered island where the inhabitants enjoy a social order based on natural reason and justice, and human fulfilment is open to all. As the traveller, Raphael, describes the island to More, a bitter contrast is drawn between this rational society and the custom-driven practices of Europe. So how can the philosopher try to reform his society?

In his fictional discussion, More takes up a question first raised by Plato and which is still a challenge in the contemporary world. In the history of political thought few works have been more influential than Utopia, and few more misunderstood.

Series: Penguin Pocket Hardbacks

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  • Utopia
    New to the Penguin Pocket Hardbacks series - books that have changed the history of thought, in sumptuous, clothbound editions. In Utopia, Thomas More gives us a traveller's account of a newly discovered island where the inhabitants enjoy a social order based on natural reason and justice, and human fulfilment is open to all. As the traveller, Raphael, describes the...
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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Utopia by Thomas More is often praised for its innovative and thought-provoking exploration of an ideal society. Critics appreciate its blend of satire and philosophical discourse, which raises questions about justice, governance, and human nature. The book continues to be lauded for its timeless relevance and ability to challenge readers' perspectives on societal norms.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780241382684

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 27 February 2020

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Contributors:

  • Introduction by Dominic Baker-Smith
  • Translated by Dominic Baker-Smith
  • Edited by Dominic Baker-Smith

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 23.0mm

Width: 111.0mm

Height: 175.0mm

Weight: 248g

Pages: 256

About the Author

Thomas More Thomas More was born a Londoner in 1477 or 1478. He served as a page, then studied at Oxford, was called to the bar and subsequently had a highly successful career in the City. Sent on an embassy to Flanders in 1515, he began Utopia there and completed it back in London. From 1528 he actively resisted innovation in religious matters and clashed with Henry VIII over his break with the Church. In July 1535, after he refused to accept royal supremacy over the church, he was tried as a traitor at Westminster Hall and beheaded on Tower Hill. He was canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1935. Dominic Baker-Smith OBE was a Fellow of Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, Professor of English at University College, Cardiff, and Emeritus Professor at the University of Amsterdam. His books included More's 'Utopia' (2000) and he edited three volumes in the University of Toronto Press' Collected Works of Erasmus.

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