Traité sur la Sainte Communion

Publiée en 1516, L'Utopie est un traité sur la meilleure formede constitution politique, déguisé en une fiction: un récit devoyage vers l'île d'Utopie, inspiré de la récente découverte duNouveau Monde. Dans cet éloge crypté et paradoxal del'humanisme, sur le modèle de La République de Platon,Thomas More nous invite à regarder l'Ancien Monde d'un oeilneuf, depuis l'île d'Utopie: lieu imaginaire d'une réconciliationdes contraires, la nature et la raison, la sauvagerie et l'artifice,l'Utopie est un modèle de bonheur, de sagesse et de justicesociale dont pourraient s'inspirer les Européens. Ce texteésotérique, dont le sens est partout caché, le récit de voyagedéguise un traité politique, la carte de l'île d'Utopie dissimuleune vanité, est une critique radicale de la société qui témoigned'un réalisme politique.

Résumé : " Henry VIII. , the unconquered King of England, a prince adorned with all the virtues that become a great monarch, having some differences of no small consequence with Charles the most serene Prince of Castile, sent me into Flanders, as his ambassador, for treating and composing matters between them. I was colleague and companion to that incomparable man Cuthbert Tonstal, whom the King, with such universal applause, lately made Master of the Rolls ; but of whom I will say nothing ; not because I fear that the testimony of a friend will be suspected, but rather because his learning and virtues are too great for me to do them justice, and so well known, that they need not my commendations, unless I would, according to the proverb, "Show the sun with a lantern". Those that were appointed by the Prince to treat with us, met us at Bruges, according to agreement ; they were all worthy men. The Margrave of Bruges was their head, and the chief man among them ; but he that was esteemed the wisest, and that spoke for the rest, was George Temse, the Provost of Casselsee : both art and nature had concurred to make him eloquent : he was very learned in the law ; and, as he had a great capacity, so, by a long practice in affairs, he was very dexterous at unravelling them. After we had several times met, without coming to an agreement, they went to Brussels for some days, to know the Prince's pleasure ; and, since our business would admit it, I went to Antwerp. While I was there, among many that visited me, there was one that was more acceptable to me than any other, Peter Giles, born at Antwerp, whoisamanofgreathonour, and of a good rank in his town, though less than he deserves ; for I do not know if there be anywhere to be found a more learned and a better bred young man ; for as he is both a very worthy and a very knowing person, so he is so civil to all men, so particularly kind to his friends, and so full of candour and affection, that there is not, perhaps, above one or two anywhere to be found, that is in all respects so perfect a friend : he is extraordinarily modest, there is no artifice in him, and yet no man has more of a prudent simplicity. His conversation was so pleasant and so innocently cheerful, that his company in a great measure lessened any longings to go back to my country, and to my wife and children, which an absence of four months had quickened very much... ".

Satire de la société de son époque, L'Utopie est la célèbre oeuvre de Thomas More écrite en 1516. Humaniste chrétien et ami d'Erasme, il dénonce les égarements de l'Eglise et de l'Etat et imagine une société idéale, utopique afin de sauver l'humanité et recréer le monde. Créée par Thomas More, l'utopie signifie à la fois "lieu qui n'existe pas" et "lieu du bonheur", et pourrait donc signifier "lieu du bonheur qui n'existe pas". Un livre indispensable à tous ceux qui rêvent du bonheur ou qui veulent imposer leur idée du bonheur.