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In Praise of Folly

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Pages: 182

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About this book

In Praise of Folly is the witty satire Erasmus wrote in 1509, reportedly during a week of rest at the house of his friend Thomas More. The goddess Folly steps up to deliver a mock oration in her own honour, and as she boasts she exposes the vanity, greed, and self deception of every rank of society. Scholars, courtiers, merchants, and above all corrupt churchmen come under her cheerful lash. What begins as comic performance turns into a serious plea for humility and honest Christian faith. The little book became one of the most influential works of the northern Renaissance and helped prepare the ground for the Reformation. This free PDF and EPUB carries the full English translation.

About the author

Desiderius Erasmus

Desiderius Erasmus (1466 to 1536) was a Dutch scholar and Catholic priest, the leading humanist of the Renaissance. He edited the Greek New Testament and argued for reform through learning and reason rather than schism, corresponding with thinkers across Europe.