Thomas More’s Portrayal in a Twentieth-Century Translation of Utopia

María Inmaculada Ureña-Asensio

doi:10.17561/grove.28.5794

Abstract

Ramón Esquerra i Clivillés (1909-1938), a Spanish intellectual born and raised in Barcelona, published in 1937 Utopia (El Estado Perfecto), a translation of Utopia (1516) by Thomas More. The translator prepared a large prologue in which he minutely details the life and personality of the humanist and introduces Utopia and its reception in Spain. As a result, this illuminating introductory section becomes a brief piece of literary criticism. The way More is presented and how Esquerra emphasizes some of his most personal features creates a particular image of the humanist: that of a saint. The information shown was carefully chosen by the translator, serving from of More’s latest published biographies to construct a useful context for the reader.

Highlights

In 1937, a Spanish translation of Thomas More’s Utopia with the title Utopia (El Estado Perfecto) was published in Barcelona by Ramón Esquerra i Clivillés (1909-1938)
The translator prepared a large prologue in which he minutely details the life and personality of the humanist and introduces Utopia and its reception in Spain. This illuminating introductory section becomes a brief piece of literary criticism
The way More is presented and how Esquerra emphasizes some of his most personal features creates a particular image of the humanist: that of a saint

Summary

Introduction

In 1937, a Spanish translation of Thomas More’s Utopia with the title Utopia (El Estado Perfecto) was published in Barcelona by Ramón Esquerra i Clivillés (1909-1938). Together with the Siglo de Oro author Francisco de Quevedo, who supported the translation and participated in its edition, elevated Thomas More’s virtues and martyrdom. The former defined the Chancellor’s death as pious and pointed out the flawless representation of the state of Utopia The way of expressing it is not either explicit or literal He takes advantage of the prologue to enhance the figure of the English humanist but in the form and content of a piece of literary criticism.

The translator

The construction of the work

The work

Reception

Conclusion