apr 2, 1516 - 'Utopia', Thomas More

Description:

Satire
Far away island governed by a reasonable ruler, it is a negative of feudal England: their rulers are elected and their power is based on merit, not inheritance. There is no private property and no vice. Utopians are indifferent to money, clothes are all the same, everyone works at a trade and does some agricultural labour, idleness is puished. Produce is collected.
The criticism of self-interest, of failing justice and of the system of enclosures in England is obvious, yet the voyager-narrator is Raphael Hythlodaeus ("knowing in nonsense" in greek)→it is difficult to know whether the txt is to be taken seriously, particularly as some of the customs described (religious toleration, divorce) would not have been accepted by TM

Added to timeline:

Date: