Desiderius Erasmus

The Praise of Folly Desiderius Erasmus

Gerrit Gerritzoons (1466 or 1469 - 1536) was a Dutch humanist and theologian. He wrote under the pseudonym Desiderius Erasmus and was sometimes known as Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam. He was a classical scholar who wrote in a "pure" Latin style. Although he remained a Roman Catholic throughout his lifetime, he was critical of what he considered the excesses of the Roman Catholic Church. Using humanist techniques he prepared important new Latin and Greek editions of the New Testament which exposed inaccuracies and raised questions that would be influential in the Reformation. He also wrote The Praise of Folly, Handbook of a Christian Knight, On Civility in Children, The Colloquies of Erasmus which appeared at intervals from 1500 on and many other works.