Thomas More. Humanism and Heresy

An intellectual biography of the Catholic martyr and English humanist, grounded in the intellectual currents of early modern Europe.

This book offers a clear and engaging introduction to one of the most influential and contested figures of the English Renaissance. Situating More’s major works within the humanist movement and the debates surrounding the Reformation and the Tudor court, Andrew Hadfield and Joanne Paul reveal how More’s ideas grew from, yet often strained against, the intellectual currents of his time. Through vivid contemporary illustrations and quotations, they bring fresh clarity to More’s texts, from Utopia to his late polemics, while offering original insights into the convictions behind them. By tracing tensions in More’s legacy, this book invites readers to reconsider the man who helped shape modern debates about faith, reason, and political conscience.