Augustijn, Cornelis. Erasmus: His Life, Works, and Influence. Translated by J. C. Grayson. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1991. Augustijn puts Erasmus’s life in the context of the political, economic, and intellectual climate of the time, sketches his education and early career; and examines the nature, significance, and impact of his major works—all in the light of late twentieth century scholarship.

DeMolen, Richard L., ed. Essays on the Works of Erasmus. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 1978. DeMolen assembles a collection of fourteen essays by leading scholars on the individual works of Erasmus in order to provide an interpretation of a central theme in each work.

Dickens, A. G. Erasmus the Reformer. London: Mandarin, 1995. An examination of Erasmus’s life, work, and legacy.

Faludy, George. Erasmus of Rotterdam. London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1970. This excellent general reader’s biography explains the historical and intellectual contexts of Erasmus’s work clearly, displaying a thorough grasp of scholarship.

Friesen, Abraham. Erasmus, the Anabaptists, and the Great Commission. Grand Rapids, Mich.: William B. Eerdmans, 1998. A look at Erasmus’s influence in religious thought.

Halkin, Léon E. Erasmus: A Critical Biography. Translated by John Tonkin. Oxford, England: Blackwell, 1993. First issued in 1987, Halkin’s study aims to understand Erasmus through Erasmus; hence, he quotes extensively from his works, including his letters, so readers can trace Erasmus’s intellectual and spiritual journey and learn of his successes, struggles, ambitions, and setbacks.

Huizinga, Johan. Erasmus and the Age of Reformation. Translated by F. Hopman. New York: Harper, 1957. Originally published as Erasmus of Rotterdam in 1924, this biography has worn well. Not only was Huizinga a recognized expert on Erasmus’s era, but he also understood his subject’s psychology as few others have.

McConica, James K. Erasmus. New York: Oxford University Press, 1991. Concentrates on Erasmus’s spiritual and intellectual development by examining his contributions to education, to biblical scholarship, and to the study of the Church fathers.

Mangan, John Joseph. Life, Character, and Influence of Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam. 2 vols. New York: Macmillan, 1927. Although some of its interpretations are dated, this biography prints translations of many of Erasmus’s writings, especially the letters. Its last chapter investigates Erasmus’s later influence as indicated by editions and translations of his works.

Tracy, James D. Erasmus of the Low Countries. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1996. A readable, clear account of Erasmus’s life and thoughts.