Sir Thomas More Collected editions

Sir Thomas More (1478 – 1535) was an English statesman, lawyer, and humanist whose work Utopia coined the term for an ideal society. Written in Latin, the book describes an imaginary island where communal ownership and rational governance replace greed and injustice.

More’s vision was both a critique of contemporary Europe and a reflection of his humanist ideals. A man of principle, he refused to endorse King Henry VIII’s separation from the Catholic Church, a decision that led to his execution.

Today, Sir Thomas More is remembered as both a martyr and the creator of one of the most enduring concepts in political philosophy.