A Daughter's Love: Thomas More and His Dearest Meg

Through detailed research and original sources, historian John Guy examines the relationship between Sir Thomas More and his eldest daughter Margaret (Meg) in Tudor England. The book reconstructs their intellectual partnership and deep bond during a turbulent period of English history. Margaret More was one of the most educated women of her time, serving as her father's translator, editor, and confidante through his years as Henry VIII's chancellor and during his final imprisonment. Guy draws extensively from their letters and writings to reveal how father and daughter navigated the dangerous politics and religious upheaval of their era. The narrative tracks both More's rise in Henry VIII's court and Margaret's development as a scholar and writer during the early years of the English Renaissance. Their story intersects with major historical figures including Erasmus, Henry VIII, and Anne Boleyn. This dual biography illuminates questions about faith, family bonds, and intellectual life in Tudor England while challenging traditional historical accounts that diminished Margaret's role. The book demonstrates how a father-daughter relationship helped shape pivotal events in English history.

Readers appreciate the detailed research and fresh perspective on Margaret More's influence on her father Thomas More's life and work. Multiple reviews note Guy's success in bringing Margaret out of her father's shadow while illuminating their close intellectual and emotional bond. Readers highlighted: - Clear depictions of 16th century London life and Tudor politics - Margaret's role in preserving and publishing More's writings - The personal letters between father and daughter - Focus on female scholarship in Tudor England Common criticisms: - Too much speculation about Margaret's thoughts/feelings - Repetitive passages - Dense academic writing style in some sections - Limited source material leads to padding Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (236 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (31 ratings) "Guy makes Margaret More come alive as a scholar and devoted daughter," wrote one Amazon reviewer, while a Goodreads reader noted "the book sometimes strains to fill gaps in the historical record."

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🔰 John Guy discovered and translated previously unknown letters between Margaret More and Erasmus while researching this book, shedding new light on their intellectual relationship. 📚 Margaret More was the first non-royal woman in England to publish under her own name, translating Erasmus' "Precatio Dominica" in 1524. 👨‍👧 Thomas More educated his daughters to the same high standard as his son, radical for Tudor England, and Margaret became particularly skilled in Greek, Latin, and astronomy. 📜 Margaret risked her life to preserve her father's legacy, collecting and safeguarding his writings while under surveillance after his execution. 🏰 After Thomas More's execution, Margaret bribed officials to recover his head from London Bridge and preserved it until her own death, when it was buried with her at St. Dunstan's Church in Canterbury.