Augustine

by

Eric Rebillard, Matthieu Pignot

• LAST REVIEWED: 14 December 2009
• LAST MODIFIED: 14 December 2009
• DOI: 10.1093/obo/9780195389661-0007

Introduction

Augustine (354–430) is the author of one of the classics of Western literature, the Confessions, and one of the most influential Christian theologians and thinkers. His study belongs plainly to Classics as an example of the encounter between Christianity and Classical culture in a key period of transformations for the Roman Empire. This bibliography does not cover the whole field of Augustinian studies, but it focuses on the works and aspects of his activity that are the most relevant for students of Classical literature and ancient history.

General Overviews

Most general treatments have the form of a biography. Brown 2000 is unsurpassable. Chadwick 1986 offers a good 100-page introduction to the life and thought of Augustine. Lancel 2002 is valuable for placing Augustine in his wider North African context. Bonner 2002 is a classic survey of Augustine’s theology originally published in 1963. Harrison 2000 considers it in its cultural and social context. Dodaro and Lawless 2000 presents some of the most controversial present-day issues with Augustine’s thought.

• Bonner, Gerald. 2002. Saint Augustine of Hippo: Life and controversies. 3d ed. Norwich, UK: Canterbury.

  Classical presentation of the different theological controversies. First published in 1963.

• Brown, Peter. 2000. Augustine of Hippo: A biography. Berkeley: Univ. of California Press.

  Two new chapters take into account the recently discovered Letters and Sermons and offer a review of scholarship since the first edition was published in 1967.

• Chadwick, Henry. 1986. Augustine. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press.

  A 100-page introduction to the life and thought of Augustine.

• Chadwick, Henry. 2001. Augustine: A very short introduction. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press.

  A new edition of Chadwick 1986.

• Dodaro, Robert, and George Lawless, eds. 2000. Augustine and his critics: Essays in honor of Gerald Bonner. London: Routledge.

  See, in particular, Robert Crouse on Augustine’s Platonism, E. Ann Matter on women, and James Wetzel on free will and predestination.

• Harrison, Carol. 2000. Augustine: Christian truth and fractured humanity. Christian Theology in Context. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press.

  Augustine’s theology is read in its cultural and social context.

• Lancel, Serge. 2002. Saint Augustine. Translated by Antonia Nevill. London: SCM Press.

  Valuable information on the North African context.

• O’Donnell, James J. 2005. Augustine: A new biography. New York: Ecco.

  For advanced readers.

• Possidius. 1988. The life of Saint Augustine. Edited by John E. Rotelle. Villanova, PA: Augustinian Press.

  This hagiographical text written by a disciple of Augustine is an interesting testimony on Augustine and his image in his own lifetime.