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1994 University of California Press, softcover. Minor shelf/edge wear to covers. Minor corner wear. Spine lightly cocked. Minor scrape on top page edges. Page contents are clean and clear - no writing, highlighting, or markings present. Binding is solid. ISBN: 9780520280410. Ready to ship. 1994 University of California Press, softcover. Minor shelf/edge wear to covers. Minor corner wear. Spine lightly cocked. Minor scrape on top page edges. Page contents are clean and clear - no writing, highlighting, or markings present. Binding is solid. ISBN: 9780520280410. Ready to ship. See less
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Peter Robert Lamont Brown
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Augustine of Hippo: A Biography Paperback – November 5, 2013

by Peter Brown (Author)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 131 ratings
See all formats and editions
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This classic biography was first published forty-five years ago and has since established itself as the standard account of Saint Augustine's life and teaching.

The remarkable discovery of a considerable number of letters and sermons by Augustine cast fresh light on the first and last decades of his experience as a bishop. These circumstantial texts have led Peter Brown to reconsider some of his judgments on Augustine, both as the author of the Confessions and as the elderly bishop preaching and writing in the last years of Roman rule in north Africa. Brown's reflections on the significance of these exciting new documents are contained in two chapters of a substantial Epilogue to his biography (the text of which is unaltered). He also reviews the changes in scholarship about Augustine since the 1960s. A personal as well as a scholarly fascination infuse the book-length epilogue and notes that Brown has added to his acclaimed portrait of the bishop of Hippo.
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  1. Print length
    570 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    University of California Press
  4. Publication date
    November 5, 2013
  5. Dimensions
    5.38 x 1.43 x 8.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0520280415
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0520280410
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

"I salute Brown's achievement in bringing Augustine out of the tomb of theological doctrine, and setting his mind and emotions working before our eyes."—Richard Southern, New Statesman

"Justly applauded for its intelligence, and for the skill with which it relates the life and thought of a man dead for more than 1,500 years to the life we live now."—Frank Kermode, The Observer

"He has attained to the true stature of his subject."—Owen Chadwick, Catholic Herald

"It is an intellectual biography, a portrait in depth of the man, and a brilliant study of the period."—J. M. Cameron, New York Review of Books

"A model biography. Mr. Brown is an impeccable scholar but also a vivid biographer and a delightful writer; he brings Augustine and his whole age persuasively to life."—Hugh Trevor-Roper, Sunday Times

From the Back Cover

"I salute Brown's achievement in bringing Augustine out of the tomb of theological doctrine, and setting his mind and emotions working before our eyes."—Richard Southern, New Statesman

"Justly applauded for its intelligence, and for the skill with which it relates the life and thought of a man dead for more than 1,500 years to the life we live now."—Frank Kermode, The Observer

"He has attained to the true stature of his subject."—Owen Chadwick, Catholic Herald

"It is an intellectual biography, a portrait in depth of the man, and a brilliant study of the period."—J. M. Cameron, New York Review of Books

"A model biography. Mr. Brown is an impeccable scholar but also a vivid biographer and a delightful writer; he brings Augustine and his whole age persuasively to life."—Hugh Trevor-Roper, Sunday Times

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ University of California Press; First Edition, Forty-Fifth Anniversary (November 5, 2013)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 570 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0520280415
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0520280410
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.4 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.38 x 1.43 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 131 ratings

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Peter Robert Lamont Brown

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Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
131 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and inspiring. They appreciate the scholarly content that explains the doctrinal controversies of the time and the factors that led to Catholicism. The writing quality is described as well-written and easy to follow.

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ReadabilityScholarly contentWriting quality
9 customers mention "Readability"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and inspiring. They consider it a classic masterpiece and an essential read in intellectual fields. However, some readers mention that the typing is too small.

"...was a giant, so his evolution against this question is fascinating, mind blowing, spectacular - I am not sure what is the right word." Read more

"Brown's Augustine is sympathetic, stubborn, loving, ambitious, and infinitely complex...." Read more

"Very inspiring reading. Unfortunately the typing is too small." Read more

"...as an introduction to the 'reading and experience' of the classic masterpiece...." Read more

7 customers mention "Scholarly content"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's scholarly content engaging. They appreciate how it clearly explains the doctrinal controversies of the time and the factors that led to Catholicism. The book is rich in historical data and thoroughly describes Augustine's teachings, attitudes, and thoughts. It has enlightened half a century of scholarship and guided countless projects of serious students.

"...Well written, well researched, informing. I really enjoyed following third century thinkers wrestling with 'what makes a life good?'...." Read more

"...Brown also clearly explains the doctrinal controversies of the time and the factors that resulted in Catholicism being the "orthodox"..." Read more

"Peter Brown's biography of St Augustine has enlightened half a century of scholarship, guided countless projects of serious students and served as a..." Read more

"Brown’s work is not for the ‘light’ reader. It is rich in historical data and thoroughly in its discussion and description of Augustine Anchises..." Read more

5 customers mention "Writing quality"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well-written and easy to follow. They also say it's engaging.

"I had been told this was a great biography; I agree. Well written, well researched, informing...." Read more

"...Brown is clearly a scholar of immense erudition. He does an eloquent job of showing us Augustine as a human being, not merely a saint...." Read more

"A great book written by a great man" Read more

"Eloquent and captivating--a must read!" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Elijah
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Definitive Book on Augustine
    Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Brown's Augustine is sympathetic, stubborn, loving, ambitious, and infinitely complex. When he wasn't raging against Pelagianism in the theological, and often political, world of Roman Letters, he was fighting slavers, making friends, and founding the medieval church. Augustine didn't want to become a bishop. Religion was supposed to be his escape from the active life, but God had other plans for him.
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  • William L. Scurrah
    5.0 out of 5 stars Also that Augustine was not always a nice person. Brown also clearly explains the doctrinal controversies ...
    Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I prefer this biography of Augustine to the more recent one. Brown is clearly a scholar of immense erudition. He does an eloquent job of showing us Augustine as a human being, not merely a saint. Also that Augustine was not always a nice person. Brown also clearly explains the doctrinal controversies of the time and the factors that resulted in Catholicism being the "orthodox" version of Christianity in the western empire. Another point that comes out relevant to later history (especially the justifications for the Crusades): that the Middle East and North Africa were Christian territories long before the rise and conquests of Islam. And that the eastern churches were more theologically sophisticated than the western at the time of Augustine.
    22 people found this helpful
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  • Andrés G. Niño, PhD.
    5.0 out of 5 stars A biography for spiritual exercises.with Augustine.
    Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Peter Brown's biography of St Augustine has enlightened half a century of scholarship, guided countless projects of serious students and served as a point of departure towards a spiritual pilgrimage for a general readership. For several years we had a group at St Mary's/Cambridge of advanced students and people in search of spiritual guidance and I always recommend them this biography that presents such a living portrait of Augustine. Particularly, chapter 16 on the Confessions serves the group as an introduction to the 'reading and experience' of the classic masterpiece. From there the road is open to explore various aspects of Augustine's life and work. As the group does taking up the Spiritual Exercises in the Confessions. .
    11 people found this helpful
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  • Matteo Tolomelli
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2015
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    Very inspiring reading. Unfortunately the typing is too small.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Hydra
    5.0 out of 5 stars Buy the very latest edition.
    Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    This is obviously one of the essential books to read in the field of intellectual history, particularly, but not exclusively, in the field of Late Antiquity. I will not repeat what others have said in great detail only to note that the very last chapter, "New Directions", is a critical addition to the latest edition of a very fine book.
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Eliseus Afamefuna Ezeuchenne
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very inspiring
    Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2023
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    One of the inspiring books I have in my collections.
    One person found this helpful
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  • ichiban
    5.0 out of 5 stars This book is well written and easy to follow.
    Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This book gives excellent insight into Augustine's life and the time in which he lived. It explains his teachings, attitudes, and thoughts very well.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Mary Jane Nottoli
    5.0 out of 5 stars A scholarly work
    Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Brown’s work is not for the ‘light’ reader. It is rich in historical data and thoroughly in its discussion and description of Augustine Anchises times. Still, for those who want a fuller understanding of Augustine’s times and his work which had a profound influence on Christianity then and even now, it may be worth the read.
    8 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • James M
    5.0 out of 5 stars Item arrived as described, very satisfied!
    Reviewed in Canada on July 11, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Item arrived as described, I was very satisfied with the service.
    Report
  • Andrew Maloney
    1.0 out of 5 stars Read the first sentence, in the first paragraph, on the first page of the first chapter
    Reviewed in Australia on March 21, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Read the first sentence, BEFORE you buy this book.
    If you can get through that sentence comfortably, then buy the book. For me, it was the most garbled, poorly constructed, pretentious sentence I've seen in a while. Usually the first sentence / paragraph / chapter gets the most attention by a writer. If that's the result here, Brown is not my man.

    Did this book have an editor? I pity them if it did.

    After rereading and rereading the first paragraph, I decided the garbled writing style of this author was definitely not for me. I'm sure Brown is a giant of a scholar, but his writing is just awful. I donated my copy to my local book exchange, with a small note on the first page... "Possibly the worst first sentence of any book written".
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  • Joshua Bell
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 15, 2015
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    Not just a good book written by a great author, this edition is also beautifully made and designed.
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  • C R Dempsey
    5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent biography of St Augustine
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 26, 2018
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    An excellent biography of St Augustine
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  • Michael Print
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Biography
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 14, 2018
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    First class writing
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