This sixteenth-century religious satire by a Renaissance critic and theologian is "a masterpiece of humor and wise irony" (Johan Huizinga, Dutch historian).At the onset of his hugely successful satire of medieval European society, Dutch scholar Desiderius Erasmus invokes the goddess Folly, daughter of Youth and Wealth, who was raised by Drunkenness and Ignorance. She's followed by idolatrous companions, including Self-love, Flattery, Pleasure, and Laziness.T...

Handbook of the Militant Christian (Latin: Enchiridion militis Christiani), which has also been translated as Handbook of a Christian Knight and The Manual of a Christian Knight, is a work written by Dutch scholar Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam in 1503. First published in English in 1533 by William Tyndale, this is the 1962 English edition by John Patrick Dolan.During a stay in Tournehem, a castle near Saint-Omer in the north of modern-day France, Erasmus encountered an uncivilized...

The Dutch humanist Desiderius Erasmus was the greatest scholar of the northern Renaissance, as well as the first editor of the New Testament. A classical scholar that wrote in a pure Latin style, Erasmus earned the sobriquet "Prince of the Humanists". Using the philological methods pioneered by Italian humanists, he helped lay the foundations for the historical-critical study of the past. This comprehensive eBook presents Erasmus’ collected works, with numerous illustrations, rare ...

"In Praise of Folly" is a seminal work by Desiderius Erasmus that employs satire to critique the societal norms and practices of his time. Through the voice of Folly, Erasmus personifies foolishness, presenting it as a necessary aspect of human existence. The text explores themes of ignorance, vanity, and the folly of human behavior, challenging the reader to reflect on the absurdities of life. Erasmus's sharp wit and eloquent prose invite readers to reconsider the values and beliefs that ...

Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam (1466-1536) was a Dutch humanist, Catholic theologian, educationalist, satirist and philosopher. Through his vast number of translations, books and essays, he is considered one of the most influential thinkers of the Northern Renaissance and one of the major figures of Dutch and Western culture.He was an important figure in classical scholarship who wrote in a spontaneous, copious and natural Latin style. As a Catholic priest developing humanist techn...

Desiderius Erasmus' In Praise of Folly is one of the most brilliant and biting works of satire from the European Renaissance. Written in the voice of Folly personified, this playful yet scathing text critiques the corruption, vanity, and hypocrisy of the Church, the academic world, and society at large. Erasmus, a devoted humanist, uses wit and irony to call for a return to authentic Christian values — humility, charity, and introspection — while exposing the intellectual and mora...

Erasmus critiques the hypocrisy of rulers and clergy who claim divine justification for war while ignoring Christ's message of peace and love. He vividly describes the horrors of war—suffering, destruction, and the loss of innocent lives—to emphasize its futility and moral corruption. Instead of glorifying war as a means to power or justice, Erasmus advocates for diplomacy, reason, and compassion as the true paths to resolving conflicts.His writings against war resonate as a call for ethic...

"The Praise of Folly" is a satirical work by Desiderius Erasmus that critiques the societal norms and practices of his time. Through the voice of Folly, a personification of foolishness, Erasmus humorously examines the absurdities of human behavior, including the vanity of scholars, the hypocrisy of religious leaders, and the folly of war. The text is both entertaining and thought-provoking, encouraging readers to reflect on the nature of wisdom and folly in their own lives, while also cha...

The Renaissance Era was a period of huge cultural advancements. It began in Italy and spread throughout the length and breadth of Europe. The Renaissance had lasting effects on art, literature and sciences. Here are 12 notable works of fiction from this era.Italy:The Divine Comedy by DanteSonnets by PetrarchThe Decameron by Giovanni BoccaccioGreat Britain:Hamlet by William ShakespeareMacbeth by William ShakespeareUtopia by Thomas MoreThe Unfortunate Traveller, or The Life Of Jack Wilton by...

Finally available, a high quality book of the original classic edition of The Praise of Folly.This is a new and freshly published edition of this culturally important work by Desiderius Erasmus, which is now, at last, again available to you.Enjoy this classic work today. These selected paragraphs distill the contents and give you a quick look inside The Praise of Folly:But I would have them whom the lightness or foolery of the argument may offend to consider that mi...

In "Erasmus Against War," Desiderius Erasmus presents a poignant critique of militarism and the moral implications of warfare, countering the prevalent jubilation surrounding conquest in Renaissance Europe. Employing a humanist literary style interwoven with satirical wit, Erasmus articulates his philosophical objections to war, emphasizing its devastating effects on human life and society. The text is situated within the broader context of the humanist movement, which sought to reconcile ...

The Satire Compendium: 70 Must-Reads maps satire's remarkable durability from classical invective and Roman social comedy to Enlightenment irony, Victorian caricature, modernist experiment, and twentieth-century absurdism. Its selections traverse dramatic farce, mock-heroic prose, utopian fantasy, political allegory, comic essay, parody, and epigrammatic wit. Canonical assaults on hypocrisy, vanity, authoritarianism, commercial culture, and literary pretension stand beside less frequently ...