Based on Thomas More's in-depth analysis of the absurdity and tragedy of the politics of his time and all times, Utopia (1516) is a fertile ground for alternative political institutions and a constantly provocative exploration of the possibilities and limitations of political action. This Norton Critical Edition is based on the translation created by Robert M. Adams in 1975. For the Third Edition, George M. Logan has carefully revised the translation, improving its accuracy while maintaining the grace and energy that have made it the most notable modern rendering of More's work in Latin of the Renaissance.

The section “Historical Contexts” includes a broad selection of major secular and religious texts—from Plato to the American Vespucci—that informed More's thought, as well as a selection of responses to his book from members of his own humanist circle and a reference from G. R. Elton on the state of England at the time More was writing.

The section “Criticism” now offers a more thorough investigation of contemporary academic research, adding excerpts from foundational works by Frédéric Schieborn, Karl Kautsky, and Russell Ames, as well as selections from encouraging and influential recent readings by Dominic Baker-Smith and Eric Nelson. In the final section, “The Modern Descendants of Utopia,” the first chapter of Brave New World by Aldous Huxley is now complemented by excerpts from another great work in the complex tradition of utopian and dystopian literature, The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin. Throughout the Third Edition, the publishing apparatus has been fully revised and updated. An updated Selected Bibliography is also included.

Pages: 336, Year of Publication: 1029, Dimensions: 13x13cm