Skip to main content Skip to search Skip to search

History Renaissance

The Correspondence of Erasmus

Letters 2803 to 2939, Volume 20

by (author) Desiderius Erasmus

edited by James M. Estes

translated by Clarence Miller

Publisher
University of Toronto Press
Initial publish date
Jul 2020
Category
Renaissance, History, Theology
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9781487505851
    Publish Date
    Jul 2020
    List Price
    $248.00

Add it to your shelf

Where to buy it

Description

In the months covered by this volume, Erasmus experienced sharply deteriorating health and thoughts of approaching death, although he remained active in the promotion of good causes and the defence of his good name. The seemingly imminent threat of religious civil war in Germany affected Erasmus in two ways. First, he made up his mind to leave Germany and return to his native Brabant. However, the arrival in 1533 of a formal invitation from Queen Mary, regent of the Netherlands, coincided with the onset of chronic ill health that would last until the end of his life. Repeated postponements eventually led to an abandonment of the journey altogether. Second, Erasmus did what he could to promote the cause of religious unity. In On Mending the Peace of the Church he urged rulers to enact moderate reforms that would satisfy all parties and avoid confessional division. When Martin Luther responded to this attempt at a "middle path" between "truth and error" in his Letter Concerning Erasmus of Rotterdam (1534), denouncing Erasmus as a skeptic and not a Christian, Erasmus responded indignantly with his Purgation against the Slanderous Letter of Luther. Erasmus’ only other work published in this period turned out to be one of his most popular, On Preparing for Death.

About the authors

Desiderius Erasmus (c. 1466–1536), a Dutch humanist, Catholic priest, and scholar, was one of the most influential Renaissance figures. A professor of divinity and Greek, Erasmus wrote, taught, and travelled, meeting with Europe’s foremost scholars. A prolific author, Erasmus wrote on both ecclesiastic and general human interest subjects.

Desiderius Erasmus' profile page

James M. Estes is a professor emeritus in the Department of History at the University of Toronto and a distinguished senior fellow at the Centre for Reformation and Renaissance Studies at Victoria College in the University of Toronto.

James M. Estes' profile page

Clarence H. Miller is an American Professor Emeritus of English at Saint Louis University.

Clarence Miller's profile page

Editorial Reviews

"The Toronto Erasmus project is a magnificent achievement, one of the scholarly triumphs of our time. The succession of fine volumes – both in quality of content and of design and production – has continued to fulfil the original promise of the distinguished team of editors and the equally distinguished advisory committee."

<em>Common Knowledge</em>

"The Collected Works of Erasmus project has long since established a new standard for scholarly translation series to emulate. Not only have the English versions represented Erasmus’ writings in crisp and accessible language, but meticulous editorial scholarship has placed the author’s thought and work in their proper intellectual contexts."

<em>Renaissance Quarterly</em>

"One of the most ambitious, meticulous, and essential scholarly projects now underway."

<em>Modern Language Notes</em>

"Academic publishing does not get any better than this: durably bound, expertly annotated, beautifully translated editions of the works of one of the finest scholars in the illustrious history of the Christian Church."

<em>Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society</em>

"It is a marvel of labor, learning, and commitment, hereafter indispensable."

<em>Erasmus Studies</em>

Other titles by

Collected Works of Erasmus

Controversies, Volume 79

by (author) Desiderius Erasmus
notes by Ronald Begley & Daniel Sheerin
introduction by Carol Begley

Collected Works of Erasmus

Controversies, Volume 74

by (author) Desiderius Erasmus
edited by Jan Bloemedal
translated with commentary by Alexander Dalzell, Erika Rummel, Charles Fantazzi, Stephen Ryle & Douglas A. Shantz

The Correspondence of Erasmus

Letters 2940 to 3141, Volume 21

by (author) Desiderius Erasmus
edited by James M. Estes
translated by Alexander Dalzell

Collected Works of Erasmus

Paraphrases on the Epistles to the Corinthians, Ephesians, Philippans, Colossians, and Thessalonians, Volume 43

by (author) Desiderius Erasmus
edited by Robert D. Sider
translated by Sister Mechtilde O'Mara & Edward A. Phillips

The Correspondence of Erasmus

Letters 2635 to 2802, Volume 19

by (author) Desiderius Erasmus
translated by Clarence Miller
notes by James M. Estes

Collected Works of Erasmus

The New Testament Scholarship of Erasmus, Volume 41

by (author) Desiderius Erasmus
edited by Robert D. Sider

Collected Works of Erasmus

Controversies, Volume 75

by (author) Desiderius Erasmus & Cardinal Flahiff Basilian Centre
edited by Charles Fantazzi

Collected Works of Erasmus

Paraphrase on Matthew, Volume 45

by (author) Desiderius Erasmus
edited by Robert D. Sider
translated with commentary by Dean Simpson

Collected Works of Erasmus

Controversies

by (author) Desiderius Erasmus & Cardinal Flahiff Basilian Centre
edited by Charles Fantazzi

The Correspondence of Erasmus

Letters 2472 to 2634, Volume 18

by (author) Desiderius Erasmus
translated by Charles Fantazzi
notes by James M. Estes

Other titles by

Other titles by