The Triumph and Tragedy of Erasmus of Rotterdam

For many readers, Zweig is primarily associated with romantic novellas. In reality, he was one of the authors who were at the origins of the now super-popular genre of artistic biography, turning dry historical names and facts into narratives about real, living people.
The hero of the book, Erasmus of Rotterdam, is especially close to Zweig. Being a "man of the Renaissance" in every sense of the word, he opposed any violence and wars.
An illegitimate poor orphan achieved everything solely through his intellect and talent, becoming one of the greatest philosophers, scholars, and translators from ancient languages, and wrote "The Praise of Folly" – an "international super bestseller of the Renaissance".
Erasmus was the greatest humanist; from his works, the entire Reformation emerged, and the most powerful sovereigns of Europe sought his friendship…