Customer Reviews (4)

Amazing book by and amazing writer.
Erasmus knew the heart of man. His writings in the 16th Century AD are completely relevant to today. If only our leaders read Erasmus he could have told them what folly any war is.

Renascence Man
Robert Adams' translation is great and helps feature Erasmus wit and wisdom with modern usage, with plenty of footnote explanation of period literature.Erasmus' satirical writing is amusing and insightful of the political and social thinking of his time.Amazing to read how little has changed intellectually over 500 years.

"Great Guide to Enter the Mind and Times ofErasmus"
This edition has "some" of Erasmus' most influential works; namely, "The Praise of Folly", the political "Complaint for Peace", "Forewords to the Latin New Testament", "Julius Excluded from Heaven", the "Colloquis", and excerpts from his finest letters.These works are selected more to understand the humanistic side of Erasmus rather than the scholarly doctrinaire who labored for the peace of christendom.With these selections - entailed by fotenotes, the editor's prefaces, and critcical commentaries - this edition will invariably enhance a more intimate impression of the mind of Erasmus at the dawn of the reformation.

Understanding Erasmus
I managed to stumble across Erasmus while reading William Manchester's "A World Lit Only By Fire", and was beyond intrigued by such a character as described that I had never even heard about. Of course,Erasmus had been mentioned in my presence often, but never in a directcontext. So I pick up this book, hoping to find out what the deal was andwhat I was missing.

My entire view of the middle ages changed practicallyovernight. Do not miss the fact, people: Erasmus was THE deal. Erasmusmakes Luther look like a limp little hothead. Erasmus is Jim Carrey toVoltaire's Carrot Top. Erasmus drows the candle of Aristophanes with aroaring torch. The ultimate critic, the ultimate wit, and the ultimatereason in an age of insanity. Without this fantastic book I may have passeda second 18 years without Erasmus as an inspiration. The pure genius andsubtlety of truly the most underappreciated scholar of all time is laid outglowingly. Why did I waste my time with "Mandrake" and"Candide" when "In Praise of Folly" does the same job athousand times better? Why on earth do we pay attention to Martin Luther,the most incompetant and ridiculous "reformer" of all time, whenErasmus was doing everything twice as good at exactly the same time?

Getthis book, people. Understand Erasmus and understand a wisdom that defiedan age of stupidity. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

One of the boldest books ever written!
Traveling toward England, Erasmus conceived the idea a little book that would become a referential text for the readers of the future. Dedicated to Thomas Moro making a curious twist of words between the name Moro and the Greek term "Moria" that designs the madness. This was a game in which he has thinking, but eventually will turn in a dangerous game. The text is apparently written by the madness itself and it says that it is the most powerful force which impulses the human life, and that all what it happens between men would be sadder, more mournful if not by its presence. This sort of allegation of the madness has a dark and corrosive emendatory, that precisely is what explicitly Erasmus is affirming. "All of you, men that populates Europe, loaded of destiny, are somehow madmen, foolish, people who ignore what you do or even go, and worst still, even don? t know the weight of your responsibilities." But wisely, he does not say in the serious tune of a preacher man, but in a mockerytune of this light satire that allows that such important isues be said and eventually contribute to shock the European conscious in a moment that was mature for that shaking, without great risk for the man who said it.

It is absolutely fundamental for any illustrated person its reading. This is one the most transcendental texts of the Western civilization,

In this sense this is a smart essay that will help us to understand evenc ?poser yjis egregious mind.


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Customer Reviews (5)

The Ongoing Debate
I purchased this book for my "Formation of Modern Christianity" class and am in the process of writing my term paper on the debate between Erasmus and Luther on the issue of free will.This book does an excellent job of reviewing Erasmus' case for free will and briefly summarizes Luther's case for the bondage of will, as well.Buy this book if you'd like a concise review of this ongoing debate.

Discourse on Free Will
Readers of Discourse on Free Will, a written debate between Martin Luther and Desiderius Erasmus, will find one of the early essential philosophical divisions of the Roman Catholic Church.These two theologians debate the heart of Luther's fundamental differences over church doctrine.Never mind issues like indulgences and purgatory (indeed Luther thanks Erasmus for not discussing such "trifles") because Luther's primary argument concerned justification by faith through the grace of God.The book compiled here, edited by Ernst Winter, is a glimpse into the minds of these two influential men.

Winter's editing is a bit suspect, as Erasmus enjoys the first 94 pages while Luther receives only the final 44, but this really gives Erasmus more time to make a fool of himself.Erasmus wonders around raising many points and attempts to connect all into his free will argument, but it is not until his conclusion that he begins to make his point.In section 48, Erasmus confuses free will with grace, on page 56 he refers to a chamber pot to make his point.He makes a weak argument until his conclusion, which takes on the appearance of a lawyer closing his case.Ultimately though, one must consider this: Rotterdam has never been known for its scholars; Erasmus is no exception.

But this is not to say Luther is the "winner" here.The book is somewhat akin to a pre-Reformation version of "Grumpy Old Men."The debate gets personal at times.In two instances Luther refers to Erasmus as "stupid" andErasmus states Luther is "without reason."This makes for a more interesting read but also shows the limits of each man's patience.This book may not be for everyone, but those desiring to know more about the debate of the Catholic Church will find it has much to offer.THere clearly are two different styles here.Erasmus offers hope for all, true to the elements of Humanism, while Luther's effort is not for the faint of heart.Either way, the reader will be richer for the effort.

"The Clash of the Theologians"
Desiderius Erasmus and Martin Luther's theological polemic and "Discourse on Free Will" is a wonderful source to understand the thought that classified, diversified, and divided the plain between the classical and orthodox, and the novel and heretical.These view points changed the face of an age - from common belief and good conduct, to individualism and good belief ...with this book you may decide a position for yourself.

an inside look at the ideas that made the Reformation
Luther once said that the Catholic Church stands or falls on the question of justification and free will: salvation by faith alone, or must the human soul respond? Get a first-hand peek at what Luther thought of the CatholicChurch's teachings, and how Erasmus, a Catholic bishop, replied. Don'tthink you understand the Reformation or the "protest" inherent inProtestantism until you read this book. This is Luther at his fist-poundingbest; but Erasmus is sophisticated, irenic, and penetrating. The keyquestion is: who was right? If you're a Christian, don't decide untilyou've read this cover to cover.

Erasmus & Luther - Smoke-rings for the Blind
A classic intellectual debate in a moderately ponderous translation, demonstrating the timelessness of ignorance , and the futility of religiousdebate.A great read for the cynical, or the cynical at heart. ... Read more

Book Description
These letters to and from Erasmus introduce students to a lively form of Latin and an exciting period of Western history. The letters are of historical importance or deal with matters of compelling human interest, making this a fascinating volume. The book includes biographical material, notes, and vocabulary. ... Read more

Book Description
A satire on the intrinsic vanity of the social order and an exhortation towards a humanistic Christianity, Erasmus's Praise of Folly--written in 1509 and put on the Index of forbidden books by the Council of Trent in 1559 after becoming the greatest literary success of the Humanistic Age-- is the towering achievement of one of the most brilliant minds of all time, and one of the most influential books ever written. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

A modest disclaimer
"It is not wisdom to be always wise, and on the inward vision close the eyes" That is Santayana's wisdom. To play with it a bit ," It is not foolish always to be a fool, and on the outward shows and games of mankind make endless mockery. For who is the fool in the one place we are all to go?"
I remember reading this work in graduate school. A dutiful plodder wondering why I was not laughing out loud and being so amused. Rather I was falling asleep inside and finding the dull complaints of Erasmus a kind of spiritless exercise in predictable dumping on all things.
Alas, I am usually apologetic about not understanding works generations of mankind consider classics. But in this case I will make a modest disclaimer. This one is not in my eyes a great one, not even a very good one.
And now to another complaint. The great tolerant Erasmus who could see the folly of human greed and vanity and prejudice everywhere was himself quite vain and greed and prejudiced in regard to one very small minority of 'Europeans' who can claim to be the most persecuted people in the history of mankind. Why should I sing the praises of someone who hates me?
The bootsteps of Nazism march to the tune that Erasmus and Voltaire the two great ' liberators' of European mankind sing.
I have no praise for Erasmus folly and his wickedness in this.

A Modest Satire
Praise of Folly is what it was intended to be, a modest satire, not a masterwork.Erasmus was an interesting and accomplished man - one of the lights of his age.However, this work, written, basically, on a lark for his good friend, Thomas More, is a little difficult for the modern reader but is still, at times, quite humorous.Unlike the work of Jonathon Swift (many years later) there's little reason to read this unless you're a student of the period.

Perhaps there is hope for us all.
Granted this is pretty dry reading. Erasmus may not be the greatest writer. This does make for a turgid evening if one plans or desires to read it from cover to cover in one sitting. That said, Erasmus rode (if not found himself starting) the beginning wave of the great reformation. In his writings (which bear a not so slight foreshadowing to the great C.S. Lewis) Erasmus gives hope for all of us sinners in the guise of wit. An important addition to any library of classical literature.

Couldn't finish it!
Sorry, I tried several times to read this book.I hunted for passages that might interest me. Unfortunately, all I found was [the author] blowing his own horn.But then fantasy and science is about all that interests me.I'm sure someone with a historical bent would find this tale exhilarating.

This fool is too wise
To say the book has less than perfect unity in tone, as was written in the introduction, pg xv, is an understatement.The reader is never sure whether it is Folly or Erasmus who is talking.Perhaps for the goddess of Folly, contradictions and inconsistencies are the very follies desired - how are we mortals to tell?

And that is what we have here - all the inconsistencies, as, for example, mentioned in pages xiv-xv of the introduction again, that Erasmus wrote with the learned sophistry he denied schoolmen, philosophers, courtiers, theologians and monks.It's almost like Lao-Tzu and his Tao-Te Ching which includes the famous "The name that can be named is not the eternal name; the Tao that can be named is not the eternal Tao," only to have a later poet, Po Chi-Yi, quip about the 10,000 word effort to say what cannot be said in the first place.Yes, he did say at the end that 'I hate an audience that won't forget,' but that's not a courtesy he proffered to his opponents, of whom the criticism by Erasmus seems caviling, carping and nitpicking.He should have emulated his inpiration, Lucian with his 'philosophers for sale,' and made points simple like that here.It would be unfair, though tempting, to think that Erasmus took Quitillian to heart (pg. 81, 'what can't be refuted can often be parried in laughter') and disguised his voice in silly chaos for what has not been thought out cogently.

So, one is not quite sure whether wasting away a life in idleness, corruption or avarice as priests, bishops and monks are wont to do is the same kind of folly as the folly that comes from the innocence of the simple minded people or children, since Erasmus never quite made it crystal clear.Do we praise folly here but condemn it otherwise - without unity of tone and consistency of the vantage point of the writer, the whole thing just becomes a mess of confusion.

What Erasmus wanted to say does deserve our attention, but one wishes that he could have done it in a more fluid style and without all that pretentious classical references, for unlike Lucian, he lived not in that period.And certainly it could be better organized into chapters and sections, and used some editing to eliminate the endless repetitions, ensure consistency and unity of tone.Casson's 'Selected Satires of Lucian' is a much better read and is highly recommended over this one. ... Read more

Book Description
Hardbound. ... Read more

Book Description
Latin translations of Greek works have received much less attention than vernacular translations of classical works. This book examines the Latin translations of Aristotle and the Bible produced by Leonardo Bruni (1370-1444), Giannozzo Manetti (1396-1459) and Desiderius Erasmus (c.1469-1536). Because these translations aroused considerable controversy at the time, their authors were obliged to defend them against their critics. Drawing together the ideas of three very different translators, this book provides a broad perspective on the development of Latin writing about translation. ... Read more

Book Description
Desiderius Erasmus was the most brilliant and most important leader of German humanism, born at Rotterdam, Holland, probably in 1466, and died at Basle, Switzerland, in 1536.

When nine years old he was sent to the school of the celebrated humanist Hegius at Deventer, where his taste for humanism was awakened and his powers of mind received their bent for life.The most brilliant qualities of his intellect, a wonderful memory and an extraordinarily quick power of comprehension, showed themselves even in this his earliest training.

Ephraim Emerton was Winn Professor of Ecclesiastical History at Harvard University from 1882 to 1918.He was one of the founders of the American Historical Association and served a term as President of the American Society of Church History. ... Read more

Book Description
In Three Volumes. ... Read more

Book Description
Volume 1 of 2. The facts as they have been left to us by Erasmus, and which Mr. Mangan has here gathered together in compact form, give us an Erasmus far different from this imagined one. In presenting this study of the life and activities of Erasmus to the public, the author realizes that it differs in many respects from the conventional biography of him to which we have become accustomed. This has been less a matter of intent than a direct consequence of the plan which Mangan followed throughout the work: of having him speak for himself always, rather than attempting to interpret his at times so kaleidoscopic mind. ... Read more

Book Description
Desiderius Erasmus was the most brilliant and most important leader of German humanism, born at Rotterdam, Holland, probably in 1466, and died at Basle, Switzerland, in 1536.

When nine years old he was sent to the school of the celebrated humanist Hegius at Deventer, where his taste for humanism was awakened and his powers of mind received their bent for life.The most brilliant qualities of his intellect, a wonderful memory and an extraordinarily quick power of comprehension, showed themselves even in this his earliest training.

At the time of original publication in 1904, William Harrison Woodward was Professor of Education at the University of Liverpool. ... Read more