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“Augustine of Hippo” was first published in 1967 and then recently revised in 2000, with a new epilogue that dealt with a whole new breed of archeological evidence that emerged between the two dates. Augustine lived from 354-430 AD. While this may seem distant from the modern consciousness, Brown has a special gift for immersing us in Augustine’s writing style (which is timeless) and relating it to the history and culture of the period. Another wonderful technique of Brown’s biography is to let Augustine, for the most part, speak for himself — what one reader described as an “almost like a mediated autobiography, an expanded “Confessions,” if you will.”
It makes for a great summer read because the chapters are short and to the point allowing the reader to forge his way through it. It is however that great book (500+ pages) that makes for a wonderful vacation read. One of the things I think you will find in it is a correlation between Augustine’s times and our own: note the “three fold Christian task” below and tell me if that has not changed at all.
One anecdote I recently read about its creation is even more fascinating and should be told to every masters thesis research scholar: “Turns out that Brown had not developed any special interest in Augustine until the end of his undergraduate studies. Being pressed for a thesis topic, with a deadline approaching, he picked Augustine almost at random. He then set about to master Augustine, and in just two years ended up writing the definitive bio that changed the field forever.” Is that a hoot or what? Another vote for “Follow your passion.”
The bibliography takes up eighteen pages and in a triumph of scholarship Brown uses primary sources in Latin, as well as, scholarly works in English, German and French. He is also a master of the anecdote and of the memorable “obscure” fact which makes him a favorite of mine. For instance, he tells us that in the Fourth century the image of Christ was that of a teacher, and a philosopher. There were no crucifixes in the Fourth century, and the concept of the suffering Savior did not exist.
I don’t know if anyone has noticed but my way of reviewing a book is to share the reading selections I made from it. So here is a few of what I considered the best of Peter Brown’s “Augustine of Hippo:”
The Importance of Confession
“It will not be held against you, that you are ignorant against your will, but that you neglected to seek out what it is that makes you ignorant not that you cannot bring together your wounded limbs, that you reject Him that would heal them. No man that has been deprived of his ability to know that it is essential to find out what it is that it is damaging not to be aware of; and to know that he should confess his weakness so that He can help him who seeks hard and confesses.”
The rest is here:
http://payingattentiontothesky.com/20...
It makes for a great summer read because the chapters are short and to the point allowing the reader to forge his way through it. It is however that great book (500+ pages) that makes for a wonderful vacation read. One of the things I think you will find in it is a correlation between Augustine’s times and our own: note the “three fold Christian task” below and tell me if that has not changed at all.
One anecdote I recently read about its creation is even more fascinating and should be told to every masters thesis research scholar: “Turns out that Brown had not developed any special interest in Augustine until the end of his undergraduate studies. Being pressed for a thesis topic, with a deadline approaching, he picked Augustine almost at random. He then set about to master Augustine, and in just two years ended up writing the definitive bio that changed the field forever.” Is that a hoot or what? Another vote for “Follow your passion.”
The bibliography takes up eighteen pages and in a triumph of scholarship Brown uses primary sources in Latin, as well as, scholarly works in English, German and French. He is also a master of the anecdote and of the memorable “obscure” fact which makes him a favorite of mine. For instance, he tells us that in the Fourth century the image of Christ was that of a teacher, and a philosopher. There were no crucifixes in the Fourth century, and the concept of the suffering Savior did not exist.
I don’t know if anyone has noticed but my way of reviewing a book is to share the reading selections I made from it. So here is a few of what I considered the best of Peter Brown’s “Augustine of Hippo:”
The Importance of Confession
“It will not be held against you, that you are ignorant against your will, but that you neglected to seek out what it is that makes you ignorant not that you cannot bring together your wounded limbs, that you reject Him that would heal them. No man that has been deprived of his ability to know that it is essential to find out what it is that it is damaging not to be aware of; and to know that he should confess his weakness so that He can help him who seeks hard and confesses.”
The rest is here:
http://payingattentiontothesky.com/20...
