Description: Henry Chadwick, an eminent scholar of early Christianity, has given us the first new English translation in thirty years of Augustine's The Confessions. We witness the future saint's fascination with astrology and with the Manichees, and then follow him through scepticism and disillusion with pagan myths until he finally reaches Christian faith. There are brilliant philosophical musings about Platonism and the nature of God, and touching portraits of Augustine's beloved mother, of St. Ambrose of Milan, and of other early Christians like Victorinus, who gave up a distinguished career as a rhetorician to adopt the orthodox faith. To make The Confessions accessible to contemporary readers, Chadwick provides the most complete and informative notes of any recent translation, and includes an introduction to establish the context.
Review Quotes: "Chadwick's translation is superb." -Church History
"If the Latin is a "work of high art", so is this translation."-The Times"A masterpiece beyond classification."-Church Times"My favourite translation is Henry Chadwick's (Oxford World's Classics), always clear, often racy, and capable of rising when necessary to Augustine's sublimer moments." -- Eamon Duffy, The Tablet "...Chadwick has the gift for being able to pinpoint significant, as well as sometimes unfamiliar aspects of the life of the church: and in this respect his footnotes in the present volume do not disappoint us."-Expository Times"Excellent translation ... this new translation is the most readable version in modern English"-Vernon J. Bourke, Saint Louis University"It is a great pleasure to welcome a translation of the Confessions from one who is both a scholar and a lover of Augustine. There is a concise but very informative introduction, and a bibliography which will be extremely helpfull to the students who wants to read some of the work of Augustine's contemporaries in extenso. The translation itself is clear and accessible ... of available English version, this offers the most comprehensive identification of scriptural allusions in the text."-Rowan Williams, Journal of Theological Studies