Rating: 
Summary: A Character Study
Review: I enjoyed this book, but I do think that as a narrative history it is perhaps slightly flawed. The main strength (and problem) I have with this book is that the character study is so dominant that is completely ignores the larger historical picture that More lived within and, at times the dominant philosophy, that may have allowed a deeper understanding of More.
The gnawing problem I have with this book is the main currents that More struggled against and the ideas he fought for are little outlined. The church that he so selflessly defended is little described beyond its social context in which More was raised. The central point of More was that the sublimation of the time honoured traditions (though admittedly flawed) could not be merely circumvented by mans personal appeal to God. Direct dialougue with God allowed a virtual pandora's box of interpretation and clash of beliefs that could only lead to mass bloodshed --- and he was right! This belief is left unexplored and the historical events, such as the peasants revolt in Germany that More abhored and used in his polemical tracts against Luther (a thoroughly scatologically unsavoury character) is not described. In addition Charles V sack of Rome and its influence on the relations with Henry VII are not considered relevant.
So I feel dissatified because I am not getting a wide historical narrative. Although I understand the texture of the stones that he worshipped upon and the feel of the robes he wore, I have little feeling of the times that surrounded him. For the first-time reader of More, this may appear disconcerting.
I realise that my critique cuts another way: if Ackroyd did write the larger historical narrative I wanted, he may have digressed into the narrative historical self-abuse of the 1000 page biography (only acceptable in the most exceptional of circumstances).
I also get no sense of a building dennoument in the encounter with Henry. There is a annoying blase telling of the story with some bright moments -- the book gets better as one goes through it -- it is dense and quite frankly, a little boring in the beginning.
ALso the Olde Englysh translations do detract from the flow of the narrative. Although it is easily understood ones reading flow slows from 700 words per minute, to 50 words per minute in the old English translations. He should revise it from the 16th Century vernacular to modern spelling.
In final analysis I feel that I really did not understand the man. I feel that I need to get a hold of a better biography of the man. So if Ackroyd succeeded in doing this, then it was worth the read.
Rating: 
Summary: Not only a biography but another age brought alive.
Review: I had enjoyed Richard Marius's 1985 biography of More enormously, as giving an insight into More's thinking - and particularly how a clever, generous and decent man could see it as his duty to be a persecutor of perceived heretics. Ackroyd's biography goes even further, addressing not only More's intellectual and spiritual development, but also giving a lively feeling of the daily realities of the world in which he lived and worked. More's "job challenge" as a lawyer, diplomat and statesman is particularly well explained and the descriptions of his surroundings, and of his friends and colleagues, add powerfully to the sense of immediacy - even familiarity - which is created. More's final dilemma, which will bring him to the scaffold, is skillfully placed in the context of his spiritual development over earlier years, so that when it arises his inability to chose any road other than he does appears wholly inevitable. In its recreation of the mentality of a figure of another age, this biography approaches the stark immediacy and credibility usually only achieved in the fiction of the highest order, such as the novels of Zoe Oldenburg. As such I was strongly remined of the portrayal of the Albegensian mind, conscience and dilemmas in Oldenburg's "Destiny of Fire".
Rating:
Summary: I was looking for more
Review: I had looked forward to reading this biography after reading the advance reviews of it. However, I have not rated it any higher than I did because there were, to me, two flaws with it. The first is the the author's unusual approach to analying his subject on the basis on how he appears in several portraits that he sat for. Ackroyd tells us a lot about More's personality and manner on the basis of his appearance and his facial expressions in the portraits and he spends quite a few pages in doing so. He tells us a lot about other family members as well when they show up in the various portraits. I would have preferred that these parts of the book had been edited out. The second flaw in Ackroyd's book is his use of the original Olde English spelling when quoting More's written work. Perhaps some of his readers enjoyed these frequent quotations but, to me, they were like speed bumps in the flow of how the book read. If Ackroyd were to do a biography on Chairman Mao would he put all of Mao's quotations in the original Chinese? I realize we're talking about the English language but you try reading this book and see if you don't come to the same conclusion. It reads poorly as a result of this approach because you have to stop and sound out each word one at a time. They spelled a lot differently back then but it ceased to be quaint after the first few chapters. Having disparaged the book, let me praise it in conclusion for the scholarly work that the author has done. Although a bit tedious in the middle, Mr. Ackroyd did an outstanding job in how he finished this tragic/heroic tale of a man for who stood tall for what he believed in.
Rating:
Summary: I was looking for more
Review: I had looked forward to reading this biography after reading the advance reviews of it. However, I have not rated it any higher than I did because there were, to me, two flaws with it. The first is the the author's unusual approach to analying his subject on the basis on how he appears in several portraits that he sat for. Ackroyd tells us a lot about More's personality and manner on the basis of his appearance and his facial expressions in the portraits and he spends quite a few pages in doing so. He tells us a lot about other family members as well when they show up in the various portraits. I would have preferred that these parts of the book had been edited out. The second flaw in Ackroyd's book is his use of the original Olde English spelling when quoting More's written work. Perhaps some of his readers enjoyed these frequent quotations but, to me, they were like speed bumps in the flow of how the book read. If Ackroyd were to do a biography on Chairman Mao would he put all of Mao's quotations in the original Chinese? I realize we're talking about the English language but you try reading this book and see if you don't come to the same conclusion. It reads poorly as a result of this approach because you have to stop and sound out each word one at a time. They spelled a lot differently back then but it ceased to be quaint after the first few chapters. Having disparaged the book, let me praise it in conclusion for the scholarly work that the author has done. Although a bit tedious in the middle, Mr. Ackroyd did an outstanding job in how he finished this tragic/heroic tale of a man for who stood tall for what he believed in.
Rating:
Summary: Too high brow
Review: I've only read 5 chapters in this book and I am not impressed. St. Thomas More is one of the greatest men in history. Not only is he one of the most intelligent men who ever lived but was willing to pay the ultimate price (death) for the truth. However, most people (including myself) are of average intelligence and Mr. Ackroyd does not seem to have written this book with us in mind. Mr. Ackroyd's use of the English language is polished but too intelligent for the average person to understand. He should have written at a more mainstream level. In addition, he insists on using 15th century Olde Englishe grammar and spelling when quoting sayings or writings of people who knew Thomas More. While this may make things more authentic and gives a flavor for the period, most of the time I do not understand what is being said or explained! And to think I have to read another 300-350 more pages. I hope I will still get a better understanding of St. Thomas More as a man, father, and a Saint.
Rating:
Summary: A man out of season
Review: If you were raised on "A Man for All Seasons" like I was, this book will be a real eye-opener. Far from the counter-cultural icon of a Renaissance Thoreau, this volume puts Sir Thomas firmly in the context of the Establishment of his time. I couldn't put the book down for the fascinating insights it gave into the social hierarchy in which More moved. A child of privilege, his position in the newly-risen and literate middle class of London was one of relationships and obligations. His attraction to what became the Humanist movement is presented as an intellectual dalliance at odds with his basic system of beliefs. He enjoyed the intellectual freedom it afforded but his spiritual and emotional constants remained unaffected. In the end, it was his upholding of tradition which condemned him in an era of change. His martyrdom was one of dying to maintain the Middle Ages against the coming modern world rather than of individual conscience. An excellent read that you will be hard pressed to put down.
Rating:
Summary: Erudite and extremely interesting
Review: Mr. Ackroyd had done a wonderful job of bringing Thomas More to life. This is a biography of a real person, not just a plaster saint. As a Catholic and a lawyer I found it challenging as it presented the full scope of More's activities. More was in my opinion the paragon lawyer and husband. He had to deal with real everyday issues in addition to his relationship with Henry VIII. Would greatly enjoy the opportunity to discuss with the author. Highly recommend.
Rating:
Summary: Inspiring and Real
Review: My interest in Thomas More began when I learned that he was the Patron Saint of Lawyers, when I as about to graduate from law school. This book seemed to be the most realistic and comprehensive work on the life of Thomas More. Naturally, many of the works devoted to him are much more spiritual or political in nature. Peter Ackroyd, however, covers it all. His discussion of More's childhood and family life provide insights into his political career and spirtuality. At first glance, the contrast between More's "worldly" political career and his deep, sincere spirituality might seem jarring to contemporary eyes. Ackroyd deftly points out, though, that for More's contemporaries, there really isn't a contrast. Religion, politics, and social hierarchy were all part of the same system -- to a point. The Life of Thomas More shows that, given the right elements (e.g., Henry the Eighth on the throne, the Protestant Reformation in full swing, More's own faith), religion and politics can (and will) clash violently. Ackroyd's writing is, quite simply, wonderful. While the material can be quite dense, Ackroyd's prose keeps you moving swiftly through the book. Although the book is certainly well-researched and up to anyone's standards of scholarship, Ackroyd's tone is not at all distant. On a more personal note, I found Thomas More's strength and faith to be very inspiring. While few of us will become martyrs to our faith or wear a hairshirt, Thomas More's life shows that strength of character and strong faith require a lot of work, but are valuable attributes in a complicated world.
Rating:
Summary: Inspiring and Real
Review: My interest in Thomas More began when I learned that he was the Patron Saint of Lawyers, when I as about to graduate from law school. This book seemed to be the most realistic and comprehensive work on the life of Thomas More. Naturally, many of the works devoted to him are much more spiritual or political in nature. Peter Ackroyd, however, covers it all. His discussion of More's childhood and family life provide insights into his political career and spirtuality. At first glance, the contrast between More's "worldly" political career and his deep, sincere spirituality might seem jarring to contemporary eyes. Ackroyd deftly points out, though, that for More's contemporaries, there really isn't a contrast. Religion, politics, and social hierarchy were all part of the same system -- to a point. The Life of Thomas More shows that, given the right elements (e.g., Henry the Eighth on the throne, the Protestant Reformation in full swing, More's own faith), religion and politics can (and will) clash violently. Ackroyd's writing is, quite simply, wonderful. While the material can be quite dense, Ackroyd's prose keeps you moving swiftly through the book. Although the book is certainly well-researched and up to anyone's standards of scholarship, Ackroyd's tone is not at all distant. On a more personal note, I found Thomas More's strength and faith to be very inspiring. While few of us will become martyrs to our faith or wear a hairshirt, Thomas More's life shows that strength of character and strong faith require a lot of work, but are valuable attributes in a complicated world.
Rating:
Summary: Unrivalled ability to quicken time and place
Review: Perhaps it is the film version, or maybe the unfailing result of Canonisation, which has levered More away from his time and place in popular imagination. We know better of Saints, or should do: that the giants have feet of clay, and they lived, as we do, in the swirl of their times. One of Ackroyd's triumphs in this work is to replace More in Tudor England, from whence the Iconographers have plucked him. His account of More's life is a thrilling chronicle of the end of the Middle Ages and of a City which has all but gone. As the author's dramatisation of the East End in 'Hawksmoor' vividly demonstrates, his ability to quicken a place and time are almost unrivalled, and here too, he shows that something of More's England exists still, unrecognisable though the schoolboy's daily journey along Cheapside might be to our eyes. Ackroyd's arguments are persuasive, particularly those he presents on the subject of the Law and More's own way of expressing piety. Yet, the reader who hates being told what to think, never feels hemmed in by opinions, nor browbeaten into following a 'line'.
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