Hi all.
I've read this book recently and quite enjoyed it. The book Utopia was written by Thomas More in 1516 as I understand it in a less than veiled attempt to cirticise the English and European society of that time. It's also where the phrase Utopia as used in the modern context was first coined or introduced into Western society.
The story basically follows an imaginary adventurer, Raphael Hythloday, who has visited a distant island called Utopia. More then proceeds to write the book based on Rapheal's experiences. The society that is painted is one where men and women are equal, all religions are a given an equal footing, everything belongs to everyone, commnuity is more important than an indviudal's ambitions, money does not exist etc...
I't's been suggested that whilst More didn't necessarily believe in a Utopia but rather a world that could be improved upon by studying such a model others did embrace this idea and for this reason alone it has been seen as a most influential book in terms of the later development of e.g. Communism in Europe.
Obviously due to human infallibtilty this style of Utopian society is not practically achievable (as witnessed throughout history) and who is to say we would want a world modelled exactly on More's imaginary country BUT I for one quite enjoyed some of the prose presented, eventhough this read was at times a little tedious for me.
Anyway I was just wondering if anyone else has read this book and would like to pass on any comments about it.....
I've read this book recently and quite enjoyed it. The book Utopia was written by Thomas More in 1516 as I understand it in a less than veiled attempt to cirticise the English and European society of that time. It's also where the phrase Utopia as used in the modern context was first coined or introduced into Western society.
The story basically follows an imaginary adventurer, Raphael Hythloday, who has visited a distant island called Utopia. More then proceeds to write the book based on Rapheal's experiences. The society that is painted is one where men and women are equal, all religions are a given an equal footing, everything belongs to everyone, commnuity is more important than an indviudal's ambitions, money does not exist etc...
I't's been suggested that whilst More didn't necessarily believe in a Utopia but rather a world that could be improved upon by studying such a model others did embrace this idea and for this reason alone it has been seen as a most influential book in terms of the later development of e.g. Communism in Europe.
Obviously due to human infallibtilty this style of Utopian society is not practically achievable (as witnessed throughout history) and who is to say we would want a world modelled exactly on More's imaginary country BUT I for one quite enjoyed some of the prose presented, eventhough this read was at times a little tedious for me.
Anyway I was just wondering if anyone else has read this book and would like to pass on any comments about it.....
