A comprehensive introduction to one of the most influential Christian theologians of all time, this book distills the teachings of Augustine (354-430) from his ninety-five works, more than 1,000 sermons, and some 270 letters into a concise overview of his major topics. Mary T. Clark shows how Augustine came to Christianity and how he developed his ideas in his search for harmony between faith and understanding, religion and philosophy. Concentrating on Augustine's conclusions about central philosophical and theological issues, she explains his ideas clearly, taking into account the most recently published scholarship and lately-discovered letters.
This book will be a helpful guide for anyone wanting to get a sense of Augustine's writings as a whole. Chapters outlining his life and on Neoplatonism place his works and ideas in context. The volume includes a chronology of his works with the Latin editions and English translations indicated; a table of biographical events charted against major historical ones; and a selected bibliography of recent works in English.
Reviews
"Clark has managed to distill more than forty years of academic reflection on the writings of St. Augustine into a single-volume gem of synopsis. Rarely is profound thought enunciated so confidently."—Crisis Magazine
About the Author
Mary T. Clark, RSCJ, chaired the Department of Philosophy at Manhattanville College, NY for many years. She is a past president of the American Catholic Philosophical Association and of the Metaphysical Society of America.
