Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam

"Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam" by Ephraim Emerton is a detailed record of a brilliant mind during a period of immense change. The book follows Erasmus, a major player in both the Renaissance and the Reformation, who sought to change how people thought about themselves and the church. The biography starts by acknowledging the difficulty in fully understanding Erasmus because he was so complex. The story then moves to his early years, explaining how he never really felt at home in his birthplace and how he chafed against the strict rules of the monastery. From the beginning we see a young man born into a simple life, but with a spirit that could not be contained by the rigid expectations placed on him, setting the stage for him to become a scholar and humanist caught in the middle of religious upheaval.