Elogio della follia

by Erasmo Da Rotterdam

Ebook, 2014

Status

Available

Genres

Philosophy

All Topics

Religion & Spirituality

Nonfiction

Fiction

Collection

e-book

Publication

Liberliber

Description

Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536) was a Dutch humanist, scholar, and social critic, and one of the most important figures of the Renaissance. The Praise of Folly is perhaps his best-known work. Originally written to amuse his friend Sir Thomas More, this satiric celebration of pleasure, youth, and intoxication irreverently pokes fun at the pieties of theologians and the foibles that make us all human, while ultimately reaffirming the value of Christian ideals. No other book displays quite so completely the transition from the medieval to the modern world, and Erasmus's wit, wisdom, and critical spirit have lost none of their timeliness today.This Princeton Classics edition of The Praise of Folly features a new foreword by Anthony Grafton that provides an essential introduction to this iridescent and enduring masterpiece.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member Angelic55blonde

This is difficult to read because of the satire and the fact the Erasmus wrote a lot between the lines. It is a good read if you can get through it and a must-read for anyone who is an early modern historian or buff.

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LibraryThing member gmillar

I tried. This is John Wilson's 1668 translation and I had trouble getting used to reading the useage. It's beautiful language but I still couldn't get going. As we change societally, we change our language. I got the gist of this book and I really like the concept but I am going to look for a

modern translation.

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LibraryThing member JVioland

Clever. A famous work of the Renaissance, it led to the questioning of absurd abuses of authority in the Church. Some say it laid the groundwork for the Reformation.

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Original publication date

1509 (Original Latin)

1511

1668 (English: Wilson)

Local notes

Erasmo, con "Elogio della Follia", guarda e invita a guardare alla demenza del mondo con occhi nuovi: nella consapevolezza che la realtà è quella che è e, in fondo, ci sono sempre delle "ragioni" in quello che gli uomini fanno - come non tarderà a sottolineare il Machiavelli - per cui vale forse la pena di dar credito alla "follia".
(piopas)