The name of Erasmus today is most often associated with The Praise of Folly, although this work was by no means the basis for his fame during his lifetime. Born on the eve of the Reformation, Erasmus was a literary celebrity and religious reformer who developed an approach to Christian theology and spiritual practice sharply at odds with the scholastic theology that was still dominant at the time of his early youth.
The son of a physician’s daughter and a priest, Erasmus was born in Rotterdam in either 1467 or 1469. As a child he was educated in Deventer at a school operated by members of the Brethren of the Common Life, a society of pious laymen and clergy stressing a life of service grounded in simple faith. It …
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Citation: Carrington, Jane Laurel. "Desiderius Erasmus". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 22 September 2008 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=1438, accessed 22 November 2024.]
