# Thomas à Kempis — The Imitation of Christ character guide

> Thomas à Kempis in The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Thomas Kempis, Thomas Hemercker, Thomas Hemercker de Kempis, Kempis, the Kempis

**First appearance:** 0000-dedication

## Snapshot

The fifteenth-century monk whose voice opens the book with a single uncompromising claim: follow Christ, and walk out of the darkness.

## Who they are

Thomas à Kempis stands behind the text as its traditional author, invoked in a dedicatory letter as the Spirit-inspired writer of six hundred years past. His distinctive stance is anti-intellectual and anti-vain: better a lowly peasant who serves God than a proud philosopher watching the stars; knowledge without humility profits nothing. His opening admonitions set the book's early course, redirecting the reader from speculation about the Trinity toward the imitation of a life.

## In the story

### [Dedication](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_imitation_of_christ_se/chapters/dedication)

The original author of the work, mentioned as being inspired six hundred years ago.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_imitation_of_christ_se/characters/thomas_kempis
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_imitation_of_christ_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_imitation_of_christ_se/characters