Thomas More: A Portrait of Courage: 30th Anniversary Edition

“Thomas More is more important at this moment than at any moment since his death, even perhaps the great moment of his dying; but he is not quite so important as he will be in about a hundred years’ time.” In 1929, G. K. Chesterton made this claim with acute perception. One of history’ s greatest lawyers and statesmen and most admired figures of all time, Thomas More was voted “ Lawyer of the Millennium” by the Law Society of Great Britain and named “ Patron of Statesmen” by John Paul II. He combined immense humanistic learning with an unequaled command of the legal and political traditions of Christendom, forging a profound philosophy of statesmanship and freedom. He possessed the virtues of an exemplary husband, father, and friend and the detachment and interior peace of a saint. He thus emerged from the first great crisis of modern tyranny— a crisis that would claim his life— as the model of a truly free man, whose conscience and character no despot could subvert. Thomas More was canonized in 1935 as Hitler was rising to power and the world needed an example of courage and skill in the face of the greatest of dangers. This book reveals how More prepared himself for the challenges of his life, and how he rose to the demands placed upon him. This 30th anniversary edition includes citations to Scepter’ s collection of Thomas More writings while incorporating updated sources and information about More’ s life.