Research question: Sir Thomas More

[Huckleman2000]

I need to research Sir Thomas More for a play I'm in. I've got "A Man For All Seasons" to watch, and some websites...

Does anyone have any other suggestions for books or movies that might give me a sense of the man?

 

[Aylfrith]

Any book on Henry the VIIIth will tell you a lot about Sir Thomas More. From what I've read he was very learned and has a sense of humour. The sad thing was that although he and Henry were friends, when Sir Thomas refused to acknowledge the king as the head of the church...he had him beheaded.
There is a very interesting picture of him with his family, and in the background the rumour is it that Richard Plantagenet (who should have been king) long story.

 

[polynices]

I need to research Sir Thomas More for a play I'm in. I've got "A Man For All Seasons" to watch, and some websites...

Does anyone have any other suggestions for books or movies that might give me a sense of the man?

If you don't already know it, you might try More's book -'Utopia'. It really is very readable, and it gives an insight into the man's mind, I think. It's also a reminder that the Americas hadn't been discovered for very long, and they were all still reeling from the shock of a massively expanded world. All the old certainties had gone. I think that accounts for More's eventual confrontation with Henry - the tension between tradition and innovation.

- polynices

 

[ishtat]

If you want to get to know more the man rather than just the public figure read John Guy's book " A Daughter's Love- Thomas More and his daughter Meg" 2009.

 

[euterpe410]

I did a lot of research on Thomas More in grad school, and since I've always been interested in the Tudor years I have several books in my home library:

The Life of Thomas Moreby Peter Ackryod is an excellent biography that I would recommend. Also, Thomas More: A Biography by Richard Marius is fairly good, but tends to read more like a novel than a research book. Lastly, from More himself, I would recommend in addition to Utopia, The Last Letters of Thomas More. This is a collection of letters written over the last two years of his life to his daughter, the King, and a number of other people, and gives some real insight into the final days of this great man.

He's always been one of my favorite historical characters Good luck.

 

[cloudy]

I know it's a fictionalized account, but Sir Thomas More is a pivotal character in the first two seasons of The Tudors, and believe it or not, it stays fairly close to the truth.

The added bonus is that he's played by Jeremy Northam - a hell of an actor.

http://therebelprince.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/tudorss2_4.jpg

There are some really, really excellent actors in the series:

King Henry VIII - Jonathan Rhys-Myers
Cardinal Wolsey - Sam Neill
Pope Paul III: Peter O'Toole
Princess Margaret: Gabrielle Anwar
Thomas Cromwell: James Frain
Katherine of Aragon: Maria Doyle Kennedy

...and, since it's made by Showtime, there's at least three different sex scenes per episode.

 

[lesbiaphrodite]

I know it's a fictionalized account, but Sir Thomas More is a pivotal character in the first two seasons of The Tudors, and believe it or not, it stays fairly close to the truth.

The added bonus is that he's played by Jeremy Northam - a hell of an actor.

http://therebelprince.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/tudorss2_4.jpg

There are some really, really excellent actors in the series:

King Henry VIII - Jonathan Rhys-Myers
Cardinal Wolsey - Sam Neill
Pope Paul III: Peter O'Toole
Princess Margaret: Gabrielle Anwar
Thomas Cromwell: James Frain
Katherine of Aragon: Maria Doyle Kennedy

...and, since it's made by Showtime, there's at least three different sex scenes per episode.

Now, Cloudy, you know that nobody here is even remotely interested in sex! Shame on you, bad girl. LOLOL.

 

[cloudy]

Now, Cloudy, you know that nobody here is even remotely interested in sex! Shame on you, bad girl. LOLOL.

That series has two things that guarantee I'll watch it: Jonathan Rhys-Myers (with a devilishly handsome goatee), and Jonathan Rhys-Myers naked.

 

[lesbiaphrodite]

That series has two things that guarantee I'll watch it: Jonathan Rhys-Myers (with a devilishly handsome goatee), and Jonathan Rhys-Myers naked.

He's such a bad boy. Such a naughty, naughty one. Have you seen him in 'Matchpoint?' I think you'd like him in that role and the film is good.

 

[cloudy]

He's such a bad boy. Such a naughty, naughty one. Have you seen him in 'Matchpoint?' I think you'd like him in that role and the film is good.

He definitely cranks my tractor.

 

[lesbiaphrodite]

He definitely cranks my tractor.

Bad girl. He's the wrong gender for me, but I would definitely take the actress who played his second wife, Ann Boleyn. She is hawt!

 

[cloudy]

Bad girl. He's the wrong gender for me, but I would definitely take the actress who played his second wife, Ann Boleyn. She is hawt!

Natalie Dormer - yes, she certainly is.

http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-thing?.out=jpg&size=l&tid=1713766

 

[lesbiaphrodite]

Mmm. Mmmm. Mmmmmmmmmm. I would be ever so happy to invite Natalie to bed any day of the week and twice on Sunday. God, she's delicious to look at. Thanks for the photo. Yummmmmmmmmmmmm. She makes me hungry.

 

[3113]

Does anyone have any other suggestions for books or movies that might give me a sense of the man?

There is a new book, a novel about Thomas Cromwell, that has gotten really good reviews on the way it offers a new perspective and information on all the characters and politics of that time, including Thomas More. It might help to have the rival/enemies' perspective of More and his personality/position. Apparently there are a lot of conversations in this book between Cromwell and More. At the very least it sounds like a good read:

Wolf Hall

 

[Huckleman2000]

Thank you all so much! I will definitely check out these sources, especially Ishtat's one about his daughter Meg. That's the name of the play I'm in, "Meg", by Paula Vogel, and it's about his relationship with his brilliant daughter. It's a lovely play. I'll also check out the Tudors. Purely for research, not the sex scenes.

Well, mostly for research.

 

[trysail]

There is, of course, Antonia Fraser's The Wives of Henry VIII. More, obviously, plays a central role.

I devour anything Fraser writes.

 

[Handley_Page]

Mmm. Mmmm. Mmmmmmmmmm. I would be ever so happy to invite Natalie to bed any day of the week and twice on Sunday. God, she's delicious to look at. Thanks for the photo. Yummmmmmmmmmmmm. She makes me hungry.

It's nice to see you up and apparently well.
Love the AV.

 

[oggbashan]

There is "A Life of Sir Thomas More" by his son William Roper, not published until 1626 and even then only in Paris, although it was written shortly after 1535.

It should be available on Project Gutenberg.

Og