{"product_id":"2940150838901","title":"Utopia (illustrated)","description":"One of the most influential books in the Western philosophical and literary tradition, \u003cbr\u003eSir Thomas More's Utopia appeared in 1516. The formidable Henry VIII had recently \u003cbr\u003eassumed the throne in England, and conflicting ideas about religion were fuelling \u003cbr\u003ethe Reformation throughout Europe. A scathing satire, Utopia was hugely successful \u003cbr\u003eand vaulted More to the forefront of the growing humanist movement. The story of \u003cbr\u003eUtopia is told by a mysterious sailor named Raphael Hythloday, who travels to \u003cbr\u003ethe New World with the Italian explorer Vespucci and remains at a fort built \u003cbr\u003eat the farthest point reached. From there, he discovers a strange island \u003cbr\u003ekingdom named Utopia, a pagan and communist city-state in which language, \u003cbr\u003esocial customs, dress, architecture, and education are identical throughout \u003cbr\u003ethe country's fifty-four cities. The Utopians have eliminated wealth, the \u003cbr\u003enobility, and currency. Labour and goods are distributed equally and property \u003cbr\u003eis held in common. And there are no monasteries, alehouses, or academies to \u003cbr\u003etempt a person to withdraw from society. Given More's satiric leanings and \u003cbr\u003eeventual execution, is Utopia simply an attack on Europe's wickedness? \u003cbr\u003eOr is it a philosophical tract extolling the ideal way to live? Ultimately, \u003cbr\u003eUtopia navigates a course between the desire to create perfection and the \u003cbr\u003epragmatic understanding that perfection, given the fallibility of mankind, \u003cbr\u003eis impossible.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIncludes unique illustrations.","brand":"Potter\/Ten Speed\/Harmony","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47068648079600,"sku":"2940150838901","price":2.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940150838901_p0.jpg?v=1764007408","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940150838901","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}