Utopia

’To find citizens ruled by good and wholesome laws, that is an exceeding rare, and hard thing.’

Thomas More’s Utopia presents an account of an idealised fictional society that has fascinated readers since its first publication in Latin in 1516. It is a scathing critique of More’s contemporaries and a hopeful portrait of a better world; a ridiculous satire of the rich and powerful, and a personal exploration of what constitutes a good life.

This edition is based on the first English translation of Utopia, produced in the mid-sixteenth century, allowing readers to understand how More was read on publication and the effects of the translator’s changes upon the book’s legacy. The introduction by Joanne Paul provides insights into More’s context and intentions, exploring why this work has been so influential in modern utopian literature and in political theory through the ages.

ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World’s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford’s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Thomas More

Dr Joanne Paul is Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Sussex. She is the author of Counsel and Command in Early Modern English Thought (2020), The House of Dudley (2022), and Thomas More (2017).