Erasmus and the Age of Reformation

by Johan Huizinga

Book Overview

Rather more than twenty years ago, on a spring morning of alternate cloud and sunshine, I acted as guide to Johan Huizinga, the author of this book, when he was on a visit to Oxford. As it was not his first stay in the city, and he knew the principal buildings already, we looked at some of the less famous. Even with a man who was well known all over the world as a writer, I expected that these two or three hours would be much like the others I had...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1517073413
• ISBN13: 9781517073411
• Release Date: August 2015
• Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 116 Pages
• Weight: 0.63 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 8.5" x 11.0"

Customer Reviews

Excellent reading

This is not a new biography of Erasmus - of which there aren't many anyway - but a reprint of a fairly old book, written in the twenties and now published anew as an "Oxford reprint". So much for the frequently heard nonsense that "traditional" history books were boring, because Huizinga's concise travel through time and Erasmus' mind is a delightful read for anyone with an interest in Erasmus and his contemporaries. Most history buffs have read Peter Ackroyd's biography of Thomas More and this book is not in the same league. Yet anyone knowing the basics of Renaissance history, already familiar with Erasmus to some extent - by which I mean anyone remembering from college days what Moriae encomium means...- will be charmed by Huizinga's perceptive, light handed erudition. The book takes us through the various stages in Erasmus' wanderings (England, Paris, Rome, Basel, etc). Huizinga does not worship at the shrine and he can be fairly critical of Erasmus' sometimes difficult personality. I particularly enjoyed the chapters telling the story of his ambiguous attitude towards Martin Luther. Excerpts from Erasmus' letters - originally in Latin of course...- are translated at the end of the book. The two letters to Thomas More I enjoyed particularly.

Pretty Good

I think this is a good book. I wanted to know more about Erasmus, and now I do. This book was referred to in another book I read Christianity: The First Three Thousand Yearsso I feel like it is a good source for info. Knowing the author's sad history with the Nazis made it moving.

Great historian's perspective of a great thinker

Johan Huizinga writes great history. I do not think many contemporary historians can match his prose. He does an excellent job of providing the reader a unique perspective of certain events, and the people involved with them as they unfold. In this book, Huizinga writes about Erasmus, a man who is arguably one of the great thinkers of the 16th century. I did not know a lot about Erasmus before I read this book, but now feel like I have a much greater understanding about the man, his ideas, and the era in which he lived. A word of warning about this book - it helps if you have a pretty good understanding of 16th century European history. If you are a novice, like me, you may struggle through some sections. It is well worth the effort though, in the end. The best thing about Huizinga's book is that you get more than just the history of Erasmus. The author includes a lot of analysis and his perspective into Erasmus' life, which are fascinating. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is familiar with 16th century European history, and wants to learn more about Erasmus. If you are new to this era of history, or do not know much about Erasmus, I would consider reading a more general history before making your way through this book.

"An Intimate Portrait of the Great Erasmus"

Of all volumes of study which concern the learned scholar Desiderius Erasmus, it must be said, quite simply, that Johan Huizinga's work stands out among the greatest. Huizinga skillfully and colorfully weaves the many aspects of Erasmus' life together into one intimate portrait which places the man respectfully within the setting of his time. In this work, the reader will find that Huizinga always seems to surface the inmost sentiments of Erasmus, even amidst all the triumph, turmoil, and controversy which marked the age he lived in. From Erasmus' early years as an Augustinian canon, to his final days as an accomplished and conscientious scholar, the same underlining genius will be discovered by anyone who comes to grips with this classic work. Huizinga's, Erasmus and the Age of the Reformation, is a work worthy of praise, even eighty years after its first publication. Also, found here are several valuable letters of Erasmus', which display his dutiful correspondence with individuals like St Thomas More and Martin Luther. Any study of Desiderius Erasmus is not complete without Huizinga's timeless masterpiece at hand.

Informative Historical Perspective

In the preface, G. N. Clark tells us of Johan Huizinga that his "great success and reputation came suddenly when he was over forty. Until that time his powers were ripening, not so much slowly as secretly."Huizinga starts his history of Erasmus with his childhood. He was born in Rotterdam, Holland in 1466. His years in the monastery are covered in the second chapter. We're told he was well read in Jerome. Furthermore he was consumed with the works of St. Augustine. In the summer of 1495 his studies carried him to the University of Paris. It was on this campus that a struggle of ideas was occurring. The story continues as Erasmus goes to England.Erasmus was a true wandering scholar at times with no home of his own. In describing his travels, his studies, his love of God, his calling, the modern Christian scholar can sense the continuity of the personalities who went ahead to pave the way for our contritutions.