Utopia by Thomas Moore

Utopia was written in Latin and printed for the first time at Leuven in 1516. The book grew outwards to include a scene-setting discussion of Europe's discontent. It also introduced us to the traveller Raphael Hithliday, who has returned to Antwerp inspired by Utopia and disgusted by the old world. There are fifty-four cities, we are told, all with the same laws,. separated by no more than a day's walk. Most citizens are engaged in agriculture, but have opted for another specialist trade. They do not so much as know dice or any such foolish and mischievous games. One resembles a battle between the virtues and the vices