Take-Aways Preface on an Allegedly True Story from the Island of Utopia What It’s About Ideal Society and Ideal State

Summary

Preface on an Allegedly True Story from the Island of Utopia

Thomas More writes in a letter to Peter Giles, the town clerk of Antwerp, that he is sending the transcript of an oral travelogue about the state of the Utopians by Raphael Hythloday. Since Giles was also present when the explorer told his story, More asks the clerk to check the report for completeness. More regrets that he forgot to ask which sea the island of Utopia was located in, and asks Giles to add the information. More is still hesitating to publish the report. People might not like it and object to its wit, spirit and scorn. Furthermore, the philistines could find it too difficult and the learned too trivial, so he asks Giles for advice on whether to put it into print.