112. In Praise of Folly by Desiderius Erasmus

In Praise of Folly (1509) was a best-seller that went into 43 editions in Erasmus’ lifetime: it is still his best-known book. Following in the tradition of Latin authors who had composed ironic Encomia on such subjects as flies and parasites, it was an extended joke extolling all forms of foolishness, and was written in seven days while Erasmus was staying with his friend Sir Thomas More at his estate at Bucklersbury. In tone, In Praise of Folly is rather reminiscent of More’s Utopia: one is never sure whether the author is being serious or satirical, and there is the strong sense that he does not want you to know.

Its title, Morias Enkomion, was a pun: it meant both the ‘Praise of More’ and the ‘Praise of Folly’ (Moria = Folly). Erasmus explained the genesis of the book in a letter to More: ‘What the devil put that into your head? you’ll say. Well, the first thing that struck me was your surname More, which is just as near the name of Moria or Folly as you are far from the thing itself.’

Other punning titles? I can think of three interesting ones: A Man’s a Man by Bertolt Brecht, Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez and The Wild Ass’s Skin by Balzac. I’ll wait for later posts to explain why. If anyone knows of any others – let me know!

Consulted
Rogers, TNR, ed,: In Praise of Folly by Desiderius Erasmus (2003)