The Life and Labors of S. Thomas of Aquin

What it is

This is an 1874 biography of Thomas Aquinas written by Roger Bede Vaughan, a Catholic archbishop. It was reprinted in the United States from a revised London edition and was, according to its preface, one of the first full English-language lives of Thomas.

Why it matters

Vaughan's book shows how, six centuries after his death, Thomas was still seen as important enough to deserve a full biography rather than only short entries in dictionaries and encyclopedias. It reflects the religious respect he held within the Catholic Church, since the author himself was a high-ranking churchman.

Look closer

• Why does the author say he wrote this book, according to its preface?
• How might a biography written by an archbishop differ from one written by a historian without religious ties?
• What questions would you want to ask about how the author chose which parts of Thomas's life to tell?