Written when Thomas More was in Prison in the Tower of London awaiting execution and at a time when his faith was tested to the limit. A dialogue that is long and tends to ramble, but is considered to be a great spiritual masterpiece. Rich in catholic Orthodoxy it would certainly appeal to anybody of or who has interest in the Catholic Faith.

The dialogue is between Anthony (a wise and older man) and his nephew Vincent. It takes place in Anthony's house which is in Hungary at a time when the Turks are massing on the border and as the dialogue proceeds over a two month period an invasion becomes more imminent, until in the third and final book it is evident that the Christian population must prepare itself for the invaders. There are clear parallels between Sir Thomas More under threat of death from Henry VIII and Antony awaiting the Turks, but it is also a treatise on the threat to Christianity from the Moslem world and the third book is no less than a Handbook for Christian martyrs. Throughout the Dialogue there is the continual sense of a man (Anthony/Thomas More) coming to terms with his own impending death, but finally his faith triumphs over any doubts he might have; and indeed no doubts are expressed in this work.

In book one Vincent comes to seek comfort from Anthony due to the pending invasion. Anthony stresses that faith in God will provide far more comfort than ancient philosophies. There follows a discussion on tribulation with Anthony emphasising that Tribulation is necessary and all part of God's plan; Tribulation leads to the purging of our sins and also increases our heavenly reward. In book two there is a dialogue on the various kinds of tribulation and how faith in God will help man to overcome his trials and then there is a protracted dialogue on the kinds of temptation that the devil will use. The third book opens with more temptations but soon becomes more personal and urgent as the Turks are almost knocking on the door; loss of worldly possessions and imprisonment, painful death and martyrdom are all discussed in some detail.

The version that I read was modified from More's sometimes obsolete and obscure language by Monica Stevens and I would never have got through it in the original. Stevens version reads quite well.

I found this is a long and sometimes exhausting read, but a few stories used as illustrations livened up the preaching a little. I could not help comparing it to Boethius' [The Consolation of Philosophy] which I found much more rewarding. ( )

ST. THOMAS MORE