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Marius notes, "More was not above wrenching a historical tale around to make it prove what he wanted to prove." (pg. 104)
As with any published academic endeavor, Marius has opened himself (or opened himself, since he has been dead since 1999) to inevitable criticism from other (perhaps jealous), scholars with differing opinions.
But ultimately, Marius proved his merit repeatedly. Not only did he continue to further his research and engage interest in More through articles, but he also went on the speaking circuit. All of this validated what he initially wrote in his More biography.
Marius examines other prominent figures and important scholars of the time, including Erasmus and Martin Luther (Marius wrote a biography on latter, too).
If Marius demonstrates any bias, it's the concerted effort he makes to present More as a whole person, flaws and all. He carefully cites incidents, some more documented historically than others, and focuses on More's role and his relationships.
Marius devotes a couple of chapters to More's own writings on Richard III (even though More was about seven years old at the time of Richard's death), this dedicated interest of More's, who was undoubtedly phenomenally busy with his large family and court duties, clearly is discussed in his book because Marius wants to show More's intelligence and focus.
Marius also completely examines More's writings...
More's literary endeavors take up a good portion of Marius' biography. Marius' intent is undoubtedly to discuss More's writing, and focus on what those work reveal about More as a man.
Because Marius has an interest in the psychological, he breaks down each of More's writings and activities, theologically and politically, all of which, again, define More's character and faith.
And it's the aspect of motivation that ultimately separates Marius from other biographers. While there's a lot of detail to the twice-married father and his devoted family life, it also chronicles, with detail and interest, the machinations of More's daily life.
While there have been many books either dedicated exclusively to More or feature him, Marius biography provides such a well-written account (hence rendering it completely readable), filled with factual history and stories and observations that aren't found anywhere else. it's Marius' objectivity and his innate non-judgmental stance throughout that make his biography, in this reviewer's opinion, the definitive.
The literary methods that More employs are analogous to those utilized by Galileo Galilei just over a half century later. Galileo also approached a delicate subject with regard to the Church in a hypothetical and fictitious manner. He had uncovered valid and relatively conclusive evidence that the earth revolved around the sun. Yet, this discovery was a direct contradiction of preexisting clerical interpretations of the scriptures. Even though Galileo was
Sir Thomas More Thomas More was born in London on February 7, 1478 to a respected judge. He received a good education at St. Anthony's School in London. When he was in his teens, he served as a in Archbishop Morton's home. Morton predicted that More would become a "marvelous man." (Ackroyd, 1998) More attended college at Oxford University, where he wrote comedies and studied Greek literature. One of his very first
WOMEN AND FEMINISM IN SIR THOMAS MORE'S UTOPIA First published in 1516, Sir Thomas More's Utopia is considered as one of the most influential works of Western humanism. Through the first-person narrative of Raphael Hythloday, More's mysterious traveler, Utopia is described as a pagan communist city-state or polis governed by intellect and rationality. By addressing such issues as religious pluralism, women's rights, state-sponsored education, colonialism and justified warfare, the main protagonist