Johann Eberlin – the First Utopian of Continental Europe in the Modern Era

This paper is a preface to the translation of Johann Eberlin’s “Wolfaria” (1521) – the first utopian text in Early Modern Era of continental Europe. J. Eberlin von Günzburg (c. 1460–1533) – religious reformer and thinker, humanist, translator. The article brings the brief analysis of his biography, social and political activities, as well as his writings. His ideas are subjected to the research in the context of reformation and humanist movement, they are linked to the views of the Wittenbergian reformist circle, the views and practices of radical reformers and the theories of the emerging utopian tradition of early Modernity. We point out the main stages of the development of eberlinian thought from radicalism to moderate views. Eberlinian utopianism is compared to the ideas of T. More, Ulrich von Hutten, J. Reichlin, Erasmus of Rotterdamm. Attention is paid to his attitudes towards social justice, property, education, humanistic studies and connection to early Lutheran views on the Christian state. The paper also outlines the principal stages of the research of Eberlin’s writings and thinking from late 19-th to early 21-st centuries. We give also a brief survey of the translations of “Wolfaria” into European languages. The translation is provided with commentaries. This is the first critical translation of “Wolfaria” into Russian.