Utopia: A New Translation, Backgrounds, Criticism (Norton Critical Edition)

Utopia was a beautiful concept of a life that revolved around peace and a society without violence. It would be a type of redirection in the way, we bring up our young from infancy. More who at one time was King Henry VIII's very close friend, fell from his grace by not swearing the vow that recognized Henry as the Head of the Church of England (which consequently excommunicated England from Rome) and also did not agree with the divorce/annulment from Catherine of Aragon so he could marry Anne Boleyn & name her queen (all this was included in the vow). He explained to Henry that he'd always love him as a friend, and never speak against him publicly, but as a Catholic, even if he said the words but kept the truth in his heart it would still be a lie. Out of pride and anger that Henry could not bend him to his will he finally had More beheaded. This book was a fantasy world to Henry, one he referred to as a joke. He believed in making a spectacle of wrong doers while Thomas had a more peaceful idea. There are many who still feel a Utopian (which means paradise) society could be had including myself. It would take hundreds of years more work now though than it would have then. And even if we got close, it would never be completely Utopian, human nature wouldn't allow it. But enjoying it 75% of the time would truly be a wonderful world.