Breakfast

During the 16th century, one of England's leading scholars was also one of King Henry VIII's favourite intellectuals, a man he wanted at his royal court. Sir Thomas More, a prolific author who came up with the term 'utopia' in his book of the same name, became Speaker of the House of Commons and served as Lord Chancellor from 1529 until 1532.

But his subsequent opposition to Henry's marriage to Anne Boleyn sealed his fate, and his arrest and execution for treason ensured his martyrdom and his canonisation 400 years later. But little is known about the crucial role played by his daughter, Margaret Roper, in ensuring the survival of his legacy and helping him through the last months of his life.

Guests

John Guy
Fellow at Clare College, Cambridge; Honorary research professor of the University of St Andrews

Publications

Title: A daughter's love: Thomas and Margaret More
Author: John Guy
Publisher: Fourth Estate

Reporter

Gail Boserio

Radio National often provides links to external websites to complement program information. While producers have taken care with all selections, we can neither endorse nor take final responsibility for the content of those sites.