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The Epistles of Erasmus

Erasmus · 1901

A 1901 English translation of Erasmus's early letters, showing his personal network and views in his own words.

These early letters, in Erasmus's own words, reveal his personal relationships and views as a young humanist scholar.

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About this source

What it is

This is a 1901 collection of English translations of Erasmus's letters from his early life up to his fifty-first year, arranged in chronological order by Francis Morgan Nichols, with commentary confirming the dating and adding biographical detail. It was published in London by Longmans, Green, and Co.

Why it matters

Letters were one of the main ways Renaissance scholars like Erasmus communicated with each other across Europe, built friendships, and debated ideas. This collection lets readers see Erasmus's own words and relationships in his early career, offering insight into his personality, connections, and the intellectual world he moved in.

Look closer

  • Why might letters reveal things about a historical figure that formal published books do not?
  • This is an English translation with added commentary, not the original Latin letters — what might be lost or added in translation?
  • What does the choice to arrange the letters by date, rather than by subject, tell us about how the editor wanted readers to understand Erasmus?

This letter is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Desiderius Erasmus on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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