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Augustine of Hippo: A Biography
This classic biography was first published thirty years ago and has since established itself as the standard account of Saint Augustine's life and teaching. The remarkable discovery recently of a considerable number of letters and sermons by Augustine has thrown 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.
576 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1967
About the author
Peter Brown
314 books277 followersLibrarian Note: There are more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews
December 13, 2013
A very difficult read, but easily the standard secondary source on Augustine. The broad contours of Augustine's life are well-known, but Brown places them within a theological framework. He takes intellectual themes from controversies in Augustine's life (thus the Latin-ish chapter titles) and retells the story around these themes. It makes for somewhat difficult reading at times, but it is very illuminating.
I cannot imagine a better work that more neatly captures Augustine's *sitz im leben* than this work. He demonstrates Augustine's philosophical commitment to neo-Platonism by noting how many in Augustine's time, including the man himself, were embarrassed (initially; evidence suggests Augustine later worked himself out of this embarrassment) by the "earthiness" of the Old Testament. Of course, that is just one example.
More recent editions of this book (current printing previous printings) take into account not only recent scholarship on Augustine, but recent archeological finds of some of Augustine's letters and sermons. Peter Brown is the undisputed master of classical antiquity and this book clearly shows it.
I cannot imagine a better work that more neatly captures Augustine's *sitz im leben* than this work. He demonstrates Augustine's philosophical commitment to neo-Platonism by noting how many in Augustine's time, including the man himself, were embarrassed (initially; evidence suggests Augustine later worked himself out of this embarrassment) by the "earthiness" of the Old Testament. Of course, that is just one example.
More recent editions of this book (current printing previous printings) take into account not only recent scholarship on Augustine, but recent archeological finds of some of Augustine's letters and sermons. Peter Brown is the undisputed master of classical antiquity and this book clearly shows it.
July 6, 2021
Very good. I finished the main part of the book on Dec. 18, 2012. I read an updated copy (2000), so Brown discusses what new developments have happened since the book was first published in 1967.
Peter Matheson has a helpful review here.
Peter Matheson has a helpful review here.
August 22, 2007
I read the old version, which was fine. Augustine spanned the gap between the classic world and the emerging world of the middle ages. He started life as a Manichee and flirted with neo-platonism before settling down to life as the bishop of Hippo in Roman Africa. His was a very "Roman African" kind of career (a phrase which meant nothing to me before this book). Roman African Christianity was a "purer" form that was less influenced by decadent Roman/Italian ways. In fact, the main schism of Augustine's time, the Donatists, had split from the Catholic church over the issue of Christian collaboration with Roman pagan authorites.
Throughout his career Augustine stood for the religion of church and parishioner (as supposed to the religion of the monastaries). His theology emphasized original sin and supported baptism at birth. Humans needed Christianity as a weary traveller needs an inn.
He was a prolific writer, but always anchored his writing in current events. For example, City of God was written after the sack of Rome by Alaric the Visigoth(love those names) sent patrician Romans(who were Pagans) scurrying to Africa for succor.
I felt I got a better sense of the "life and times" of Augustine as supposed to his thought and ideas. Not that I have a problem with that. Augustine is an important transitional figure between the classical and christian worlds, and his times give the reader of what it was like to live during the fall of the western roman empire.
I recommnend it for people interested in Augustine himself or the time period in general.
Throughout his career Augustine stood for the religion of church and parishioner (as supposed to the religion of the monastaries). His theology emphasized original sin and supported baptism at birth. Humans needed Christianity as a weary traveller needs an inn.
He was a prolific writer, but always anchored his writing in current events. For example, City of God was written after the sack of Rome by Alaric the Visigoth(love those names) sent patrician Romans(who were Pagans) scurrying to Africa for succor.
I felt I got a better sense of the "life and times" of Augustine as supposed to his thought and ideas. Not that I have a problem with that. Augustine is an important transitional figure between the classical and christian worlds, and his times give the reader of what it was like to live during the fall of the western roman empire.
I recommnend it for people interested in Augustine himself or the time period in general.
August 20, 2014
Brilliant! I had this on my shelf for a year before I got to it – the size and subject matter just seemed a bit daunting – but it turned out to be engrossing and readable. Brown is a wonderful writer (though his style includes more use of commas than I am accustomed to), and he does a beautiful job balancing the personal details of Augustine's life with the history of the period. I would assume that most readers going in to this would have a basic familiarity with traditional Roman religion, the history of the late Roman Empire, and with the major controversies within the Church in this period, but even without this background I think this book would be enjoyable (though more challenging. For example, the Donatist controversy comes up quite a bit before Brown goes in to it in detail. Similarly with Pelagianism. And Platonism. But when he does get to explaining things, he does it wonderfully well!)
I love the way Brown draws connections between various of Augustine's writings, tracing the development of his ideas along with the events of his life and the changing circumstances of the Church. I hadn't realized before this what an incredibly rich body of work Augustine had left, and Brown uses excerpts from his letters, sermons, pamphlets, and books throughout.
My copy of Augustine of Hippo is the New Edition with An Epilogue, published in 2000, which updates the 1967 edition with an Epilogue consisting of two chapters – “New Evidence” and New Directions.” In “New Evidence” he discusses how the 'Divjak letters,' 27 letters by Augustine found in a manuscript discovered in 1975, and the 'Dolbeau sermons,' 26 sermons, found in 1990, have added to historians' understanding of the period and of Augustine's thought, and also how they have changed his (Brown's) thinking on Augustine. “New Directions” is more personal. In this chapter he describes how his own thinking on Augustine has changed since he began his research in 1961. Both the study of the newly found documents and his own maturing over the thirty years or so have given him a more nuanced and sympathetic understanding of Augustine, and particularly of the apparently severe, elderly Augustine. Not to say that Brown's presentation of Augustine in the 1967 biography is unnuanced or unsympathetic at all, but that he now sees compassion and kindness in places where he previously saw only rigidity.
For an example of the tone of “New Directions”....
“There is a harshness in my judgements on the old Augustine which the indulgent reader should put down to a young man's lack of experience of the world. Since then I have come to know bishops. Some can be saintly; many are really quite nice; and most are ineffective. They are as ineffective, that is, in the face of a confidently profane world, as Augustine and his colleagues are now revealed by the Divjak letters to have been in their own time. Augustine's writings and the examples of his activities in Africa may have contributed decisively to the formation of Catholic Christendom in Western Europe. But fifth-century African bishops did not live in such a Christendom. They were far from being the undisputed spiritual leaders of a society 'in which church and state had become inextricably interdependent'.” (pg 492)
I read the Epilogue before I started the rest of the book, and I recommend this order, although I suppose the fact that Brown chose to make it an “epilogue” rather than a “prologue” suggests he would not agree with me.
There were so many marvelous passages from Augustine here that picking one is hard, but this one (and I include Brown's words to make the situation clear) nicely conveys what makes him so loveable...
“Not every man lives to see the fundamentals of his life's work challenged in his old age. Yet this is what happened to Augustine during the Pelagian controversy. At the time that the controversy opened, he had reached a plateau. He was already enmeshed in a reputation that he attempted to disown with characteristic charm: 'Cicero, the prince of Roman orators,' he wrote to Marcellinus, in 412, 'says of someone that “He never uttered a word which he would wish to recall.” High praise indeed! – but more applicable to a complete ass than to a genuinely wise man... If God permit me, I shall gather together and point out, in a work specially devoted to this purpose, all the things which justly displease me in my books: then men will see that I am far from being a biased judge in my own case. … For I am the sort of man who writes because he has made progress, and who makes progress – by writing.'” (pg 354)
I love the way Brown draws connections between various of Augustine's writings, tracing the development of his ideas along with the events of his life and the changing circumstances of the Church. I hadn't realized before this what an incredibly rich body of work Augustine had left, and Brown uses excerpts from his letters, sermons, pamphlets, and books throughout.
My copy of Augustine of Hippo is the New Edition with An Epilogue, published in 2000, which updates the 1967 edition with an Epilogue consisting of two chapters – “New Evidence” and New Directions.” In “New Evidence” he discusses how the 'Divjak letters,' 27 letters by Augustine found in a manuscript discovered in 1975, and the 'Dolbeau sermons,' 26 sermons, found in 1990, have added to historians' understanding of the period and of Augustine's thought, and also how they have changed his (Brown's) thinking on Augustine. “New Directions” is more personal. In this chapter he describes how his own thinking on Augustine has changed since he began his research in 1961. Both the study of the newly found documents and his own maturing over the thirty years or so have given him a more nuanced and sympathetic understanding of Augustine, and particularly of the apparently severe, elderly Augustine. Not to say that Brown's presentation of Augustine in the 1967 biography is unnuanced or unsympathetic at all, but that he now sees compassion and kindness in places where he previously saw only rigidity.
For an example of the tone of “New Directions”....
“There is a harshness in my judgements on the old Augustine which the indulgent reader should put down to a young man's lack of experience of the world. Since then I have come to know bishops. Some can be saintly; many are really quite nice; and most are ineffective. They are as ineffective, that is, in the face of a confidently profane world, as Augustine and his colleagues are now revealed by the Divjak letters to have been in their own time. Augustine's writings and the examples of his activities in Africa may have contributed decisively to the formation of Catholic Christendom in Western Europe. But fifth-century African bishops did not live in such a Christendom. They were far from being the undisputed spiritual leaders of a society 'in which church and state had become inextricably interdependent'.” (pg 492)
I read the Epilogue before I started the rest of the book, and I recommend this order, although I suppose the fact that Brown chose to make it an “epilogue” rather than a “prologue” suggests he would not agree with me.
There were so many marvelous passages from Augustine here that picking one is hard, but this one (and I include Brown's words to make the situation clear) nicely conveys what makes him so loveable...
“Not every man lives to see the fundamentals of his life's work challenged in his old age. Yet this is what happened to Augustine during the Pelagian controversy. At the time that the controversy opened, he had reached a plateau. He was already enmeshed in a reputation that he attempted to disown with characteristic charm: 'Cicero, the prince of Roman orators,' he wrote to Marcellinus, in 412, 'says of someone that “He never uttered a word which he would wish to recall.” High praise indeed! – but more applicable to a complete ass than to a genuinely wise man... If God permit me, I shall gather together and point out, in a work specially devoted to this purpose, all the things which justly displease me in my books: then men will see that I am far from being a biased judge in my own case. … For I am the sort of man who writes because he has made progress, and who makes progress – by writing.'” (pg 354)
March 23, 2015
Peter Brown's Augustine of Hippo is a brilliant tour-de-force that will delight any reader familiar with the history of theological thought or the late Roman empire. It recounts the life and intellectual struggles of a fascinating person, elucidates the writings of an important philosopher and gives a brilliant portrait of African society in the fifth century.
The first thing to understand is that Brown has written a true biography; not a speculation of the life of man known through his actions and a few written sources. Brown had the full range of material necessary to compose a true history of the public and private man. At his disposition were voluminous writings, sermons and letters from the pen of Augustine plus numerous other contemporary sources. In the epilogue to the second edition of his book Brown writes: ""Augustine appeared to me to be one of the few figures of late antiquity of whom a biography could be written. His writings were extensive, vivid and most important of all securely dated. But there was more to it than that. ... He showed how it should be done , not only in his Confessions but in his many letters." (p. 488) In other words, Augustine put enough of himself in his Confessions and letters that the modern biographer can recreate the inner man at the different stages of his life which is what Brown does and in brilliant fashion. His book contains the same charms as David McCulloch's life of Harry Truman or Jean Tadie's biography of Proust.
One does however need to know a little about the subject before starting. I had taken a course on the late Roman empire as an undergraduate for which I had read excerpts from the City of God and later read Augustine Confessions on my own. This was enough of an introduction to allow me to enjoy Brown's book. I would not recommend it to anyone who had not read the Confessions and some sections of the City of the God.
I was initially impressed at how well Brown explained the Confessions. He assures the read that the book even when read in the original Latin has the feel of being a work of the eighteenth century. It lacked any stylistic precedents in the classical era and thus tremendously surprised the readers of its era. Brown however insists that Augustine's Confessions where truly intended to be what the title indicated. They were written as the exercise of a Christian trying to understand his own weaknesses so as to become a better Christian. Rousseau's Confessions in which he takes a bizarre pleasure in parading his at times perverse behaviour before the public may be written in the same style but have different objectives.
Brown presents Augustine as a thinker who was exposed to many ideas and thought deeply about them. He received a Classical education of the Roman era. He was briefly a Manichee and then spent most of his professional career as a Catholic bishop fighting two heresies: Donatism and Pelagianism. Augustine's great achievements for posterity were to unite Platonism with Christianity and to lay the ground work for Calvinism through the development of the doctrine of predestination. The achievement of Brown's book is that it gives the reader an understanding of the intellectual context that Augustine was educated and lived in as well as explaining how Augustine's works affected what followed.
Brown in the first Edition of his book acknowledges that there is some truth in the accusation that Augustine was the great theologian of the inquisition. In his writings, he examined Peligianism and Donatism carefully refuting the in the finest detail. As a bishop, he used the full judicial, military, and police power of the empire to suppress these two heresies. In the first Edition, Brown argues that while Augustine used physical coercion it was still the verbal arguments that gave him the greatest pleasure. In the Epilogue to the Second Edition, Brown suggest that new letters discovered since the publication of the first edition suggest that Augustine was in fact saddened by what he felt was the need to resort to physical force to solve intellectual problems.
Brown also feels that St. Augustine's concept of predestination was extremely close to that which Jean Calvin developed from St. Augustine's writings. The difference that Brown sees is that while the Calvinists simply insisted that there was an elite "elect" predestined for salvation, St. Augustine despaired at how deeply sin was embedded in his nature and concluded that he could only achieve salvation through God's grace. Thus, the Calvinists at times appear to gloat over those who are not predestined for salvation, St. Augustine simply argued that he could not without God's help overcome his own sinful nature. The critics in his time pointed out to Saint Augustine that his doctrine may have had some merits in a society that was predominantly Christian but that it considerably missionary effort in that missionaries in order to win converts in non-Christian society need a message of hope not despair. St. Augustine was not moved.
Peter Brown's Augustine of Hippo is a wonderful book. It does require a basic familiarity with St. Augustine's work but for those who possess such a familiarity, it is a treasure trove of insight and pleasure.
The first thing to understand is that Brown has written a true biography; not a speculation of the life of man known through his actions and a few written sources. Brown had the full range of material necessary to compose a true history of the public and private man. At his disposition were voluminous writings, sermons and letters from the pen of Augustine plus numerous other contemporary sources. In the epilogue to the second edition of his book Brown writes: ""Augustine appeared to me to be one of the few figures of late antiquity of whom a biography could be written. His writings were extensive, vivid and most important of all securely dated. But there was more to it than that. ... He showed how it should be done , not only in his Confessions but in his many letters." (p. 488) In other words, Augustine put enough of himself in his Confessions and letters that the modern biographer can recreate the inner man at the different stages of his life which is what Brown does and in brilliant fashion. His book contains the same charms as David McCulloch's life of Harry Truman or Jean Tadie's biography of Proust.
One does however need to know a little about the subject before starting. I had taken a course on the late Roman empire as an undergraduate for which I had read excerpts from the City of God and later read Augustine Confessions on my own. This was enough of an introduction to allow me to enjoy Brown's book. I would not recommend it to anyone who had not read the Confessions and some sections of the City of the God.
I was initially impressed at how well Brown explained the Confessions. He assures the read that the book even when read in the original Latin has the feel of being a work of the eighteenth century. It lacked any stylistic precedents in the classical era and thus tremendously surprised the readers of its era. Brown however insists that Augustine's Confessions where truly intended to be what the title indicated. They were written as the exercise of a Christian trying to understand his own weaknesses so as to become a better Christian. Rousseau's Confessions in which he takes a bizarre pleasure in parading his at times perverse behaviour before the public may be written in the same style but have different objectives.
Brown presents Augustine as a thinker who was exposed to many ideas and thought deeply about them. He received a Classical education of the Roman era. He was briefly a Manichee and then spent most of his professional career as a Catholic bishop fighting two heresies: Donatism and Pelagianism. Augustine's great achievements for posterity were to unite Platonism with Christianity and to lay the ground work for Calvinism through the development of the doctrine of predestination. The achievement of Brown's book is that it gives the reader an understanding of the intellectual context that Augustine was educated and lived in as well as explaining how Augustine's works affected what followed.
Brown in the first Edition of his book acknowledges that there is some truth in the accusation that Augustine was the great theologian of the inquisition. In his writings, he examined Peligianism and Donatism carefully refuting the in the finest detail. As a bishop, he used the full judicial, military, and police power of the empire to suppress these two heresies. In the first Edition, Brown argues that while Augustine used physical coercion it was still the verbal arguments that gave him the greatest pleasure. In the Epilogue to the Second Edition, Brown suggest that new letters discovered since the publication of the first edition suggest that Augustine was in fact saddened by what he felt was the need to resort to physical force to solve intellectual problems.
Brown also feels that St. Augustine's concept of predestination was extremely close to that which Jean Calvin developed from St. Augustine's writings. The difference that Brown sees is that while the Calvinists simply insisted that there was an elite "elect" predestined for salvation, St. Augustine despaired at how deeply sin was embedded in his nature and concluded that he could only achieve salvation through God's grace. Thus, the Calvinists at times appear to gloat over those who are not predestined for salvation, St. Augustine simply argued that he could not without God's help overcome his own sinful nature. The critics in his time pointed out to Saint Augustine that his doctrine may have had some merits in a society that was predominantly Christian but that it considerably missionary effort in that missionaries in order to win converts in non-Christian society need a message of hope not despair. St. Augustine was not moved.
Peter Brown's Augustine of Hippo is a wonderful book. It does require a basic familiarity with St. Augustine's work but for those who possess such a familiarity, it is a treasure trove of insight and pleasure.
July 18, 2007
I think this is a great Biography of Augustine, but I wish there was some more focus and clarification on Augustine's theology. I think I will have to explore some more books on that specifically. However, Brown does focus on aspects of Augustine's Theology and it is interesting to see it in contrast to many views of Augustine today. Overall very good and I learned a lot.
September 27, 2021
4.6 Stars - Top Read of 2020
Peter Brown has written a phenomenal biography of one of the great men in church history, Augustine of Hippo. This is the first book about Augustine that I have read and so my expertise on this subject is minimal, but I would have to say that this Augustine biography is an excellent read.
Peter Brown's biography of Augustine is not a conventional one. This book is a scholarly work but is also incredibly accessible. Brown both uses accessible language and skillfully brings us into the culture and world of the 4th century BC. Brown's emphasis on the cultural background of the life of Augustine is the strongest point of his book and what makes it unconventional. The outline of Augustine's life is a bit harder to trace in this book, but Brown is heavy-handed on the background and culture that influenced Augustine.
Brown traces Augustine's life from his birth in Northern Africa, to his dabbling with Manichaeism, to his conversion, his battling with the Donatists, his writing on Confessions & the City of God, and his death. The highest points of Brown's book are his analysis of Augustine's platonic influences and his thinking behind writing the Confessions and the City of God. Brown balances Augustine well, showing Augustine's pastoral care and desire to proclaim that grace was something accessible to all believers, not just the elite bishops and ascetics. The weakest point of Brown's book is simply the structure. Brown merely hints at the flow of events of Augustine's life and spends most of the time unpacking the cultural, philosophical, and historical influences behind those events.
Yet, I found this book to be a profound, and insightful look into the life of Augustine. Brown approaches the topic of Augustine's life humbly and truly shows the pastoral nature of a man who was indebted to God's grace and was seeking to protect that truth. This biography is more advanced though and is heavy on cultural background, rather than Augustine's life and theology. I highly recommend this book as a secondary read for the casual reader, but the first read for scholars and students.
https://loveaboundinginknowledge.word...
Peter Brown has written a phenomenal biography of one of the great men in church history, Augustine of Hippo. This is the first book about Augustine that I have read and so my expertise on this subject is minimal, but I would have to say that this Augustine biography is an excellent read.
Peter Brown's biography of Augustine is not a conventional one. This book is a scholarly work but is also incredibly accessible. Brown both uses accessible language and skillfully brings us into the culture and world of the 4th century BC. Brown's emphasis on the cultural background of the life of Augustine is the strongest point of his book and what makes it unconventional. The outline of Augustine's life is a bit harder to trace in this book, but Brown is heavy-handed on the background and culture that influenced Augustine.
Brown traces Augustine's life from his birth in Northern Africa, to his dabbling with Manichaeism, to his conversion, his battling with the Donatists, his writing on Confessions & the City of God, and his death. The highest points of Brown's book are his analysis of Augustine's platonic influences and his thinking behind writing the Confessions and the City of God. Brown balances Augustine well, showing Augustine's pastoral care and desire to proclaim that grace was something accessible to all believers, not just the elite bishops and ascetics. The weakest point of Brown's book is simply the structure. Brown merely hints at the flow of events of Augustine's life and spends most of the time unpacking the cultural, philosophical, and historical influences behind those events.
Yet, I found this book to be a profound, and insightful look into the life of Augustine. Brown approaches the topic of Augustine's life humbly and truly shows the pastoral nature of a man who was indebted to God's grace and was seeking to protect that truth. This biography is more advanced though and is heavy on cultural background, rather than Augustine's life and theology. I highly recommend this book as a secondary read for the casual reader, but the first read for scholars and students.
https://loveaboundinginknowledge.word...
February 1, 2024
This book contains some of the loveliest and best written prose I’ve read. Brown weaves together social and theological history in a way that is a joy to read.
I learned so much about the importance of the Donatist and Pelagian controversies, and how Augustine had to navigate between the theological entanglements of his day, his own past as a Manichee, constant political demands on him, and no little social upheaval. Brown does paint the picture of an Augustine that became tired, old, and prone to straw-manning his opponents. However, there are two sizable epilogues where the author said that we would write the book differently on those points. I was left wondering why he didn’t significantly edit those portions of his biography if he came to disagree with them. A fantastic book nevertheless.
I learned so much about the importance of the Donatist and Pelagian controversies, and how Augustine had to navigate between the theological entanglements of his day, his own past as a Manichee, constant political demands on him, and no little social upheaval. Brown does paint the picture of an Augustine that became tired, old, and prone to straw-manning his opponents. However, there are two sizable epilogues where the author said that we would write the book differently on those points. I was left wondering why he didn’t significantly edit those portions of his biography if he came to disagree with them. A fantastic book nevertheless.
August 21, 2021
A gift. I cried multiple times. I prayed often.
September 12, 2017
If you're a student of history, and have been forced to read any previous Peter Brown, you will know that his usual writing style amounts to stuffing an overwhelming chunk of ideas into a very small amount of pages. What would take one historian 50 pages to explain, Brown can perfectly synthesis in 5. His use of language is intensely precise and rigorously academic (a quality that in practice should make his writing seem stuffy if not for the sheer breadth of his ideas).
Augustine of Hippo: A Biography is not the usual Peter Brown. The typically dense and highly complex pattern of writing that one has come to expect is, to the readers delight, relaxed in this study. Instead, we get a comparatively 'plain' language investigation into the infinitely interesting life and mind of St. Augustine: a man so complex (and important), that if it weren't for Brown's name on the cover, you might be amazed at how it could have been left complete at a mere 500 pages. I am not trying to be flippant when I say that this might be the greatest biography ever written; it is without a doubt the best personal study of any Late Antique figure. Brown exposes the changing shades of Augustine's psychology with breathtaking clarity and analysis, a feat that at the same time gives us an immense understanding of the Roman world that is falling to pieces all around him. Augustine's African upbringing, his various intellectual explorations (Manichaeism/Neo-Platonism), the Donatist controversy, the death of Monica and the conception of The City of God; it's all there, displayed with brilliant scrutiny and an ease of understanding that makes it clear the author has an exhaustive comprehension of his subject. For me it's always a rare delight when a far removed historical figure can be plucked out of the fog of time and displayed without bias in such an insightful fashion. The closest example of this type of work I can think of is Marguerite Yourcenar in her Memoirs of Hadrian. Unlike Yourcenar, however, Brown doesn't have to resort to imaginative writing to give us an intimate understanding of Augustine of Hippo, and each time I read this book the affect is like that of revisiting an old friend.
Furthermore, it should be noted that Brown doesn't get bogged down in the theological aspects of Augustine's life. This isn't because he isn't well versed in these subjects (he is a leading religious scholar), but rather because he chooses to take the more rounded approach. This allows those who have minimal interest in the intricate religious debates to also enjoy the study. It removes the clutter of certain theology (although obviously not all) and gets to the fundamental purpose of the biography. This is a source of some criticism among various scholars, but even those that shake their head at Brown's lack of intricate religious detail cannot find much at fault with his end result. This is a model biography and a scholarly triumph. Read it even if you don't care about Augustine and I promise you'll be sucked into this fascinating Roman world.
Augustine of Hippo: A Biography is not the usual Peter Brown. The typically dense and highly complex pattern of writing that one has come to expect is, to the readers delight, relaxed in this study. Instead, we get a comparatively 'plain' language investigation into the infinitely interesting life and mind of St. Augustine: a man so complex (and important), that if it weren't for Brown's name on the cover, you might be amazed at how it could have been left complete at a mere 500 pages. I am not trying to be flippant when I say that this might be the greatest biography ever written; it is without a doubt the best personal study of any Late Antique figure. Brown exposes the changing shades of Augustine's psychology with breathtaking clarity and analysis, a feat that at the same time gives us an immense understanding of the Roman world that is falling to pieces all around him. Augustine's African upbringing, his various intellectual explorations (Manichaeism/Neo-Platonism), the Donatist controversy, the death of Monica and the conception of The City of God; it's all there, displayed with brilliant scrutiny and an ease of understanding that makes it clear the author has an exhaustive comprehension of his subject. For me it's always a rare delight when a far removed historical figure can be plucked out of the fog of time and displayed without bias in such an insightful fashion. The closest example of this type of work I can think of is Marguerite Yourcenar in her Memoirs of Hadrian. Unlike Yourcenar, however, Brown doesn't have to resort to imaginative writing to give us an intimate understanding of Augustine of Hippo, and each time I read this book the affect is like that of revisiting an old friend.
Furthermore, it should be noted that Brown doesn't get bogged down in the theological aspects of Augustine's life. This isn't because he isn't well versed in these subjects (he is a leading religious scholar), but rather because he chooses to take the more rounded approach. This allows those who have minimal interest in the intricate religious debates to also enjoy the study. It removes the clutter of certain theology (although obviously not all) and gets to the fundamental purpose of the biography. This is a source of some criticism among various scholars, but even those that shake their head at Brown's lack of intricate religious detail cannot find much at fault with his end result. This is a model biography and a scholarly triumph. Read it even if you don't care about Augustine and I promise you'll be sucked into this fascinating Roman world.
May 26, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in the life and world of Augustine through Brown's landmark biography. There is a reason why it has remained the standard life of Augustine for over 45 years.
The epilogue, which was not a part of the original biography, includes two chapters reflection on the advances in Augustine scholarship since Brown first wrote. The first focuses on the significance of the discovery of two groups of manuscripts - one of sermons and another of letters - that have occurred since Brown first wrote. The second is more reflective on Brown's own cultural and scholarly milieu in the 1960's and how that influenced his writing as well as how scholarship has changed and advanced since then. This final chapter is a marvelously honest and humble self-reflection, perhaps in the spirit of Augustine's own Retractions.
A highly respected work that does not need my commendation but which I offer nonetheless.
The epilogue, which was not a part of the original biography, includes two chapters reflection on the advances in Augustine scholarship since Brown first wrote. The first focuses on the significance of the discovery of two groups of manuscripts - one of sermons and another of letters - that have occurred since Brown first wrote. The second is more reflective on Brown's own cultural and scholarly milieu in the 1960's and how that influenced his writing as well as how scholarship has changed and advanced since then. This final chapter is a marvelously honest and humble self-reflection, perhaps in the spirit of Augustine's own Retractions.
A highly respected work that does not need my commendation but which I offer nonetheless.
November 10, 2012
(I read the old edition.) Titanic is the word that came to mind as I read. Augustine, his theology, his philosophy, his pastoral ministry, his interaction with the state, his defenses of orthodoxy come alive in this wonderful biography by Peter Brown. Brown emphasizes Augustine's intellectual labors and how his thought matured over the years. I was especially convicted by his love for his flock and his compassion towards them. Brown's discussion of the Donatist controversy and the Pelagian controversy were excellent. I never realized how much passion Augustine had and how deeply he felt certain things. I did not come close to absorbing all that was discussed, but what I got was exciting. Two specific things came out of the reading: First, I want to think better and deeper. Second, I want to get Augustine's sermons.
May 1, 2018
This is an incredibly detailed biography of Augustine. Peter Brown uses Augustine’s writings and other sources of the period to create a biography which must be considered the authoritative work on Augustine. It is a difficult read at times and I read this over a period of time, taking it slowly. However, it was certainly worthy the effort.
February 25, 2009
Outstanding.
August 16, 2022
A fine biography. Augustine was a troubled intolerant zealot by the standards of his age as well as ours.
January 31, 2023
Brown is truly a master of his field and on intimate terms with Augustine. I’m grateful to have sat at the master Augustine’s feet beside him. I even heard the echo of a still greater Master in Brown’s copious quotations from Augustine. Come and see.
February 4, 2011
I was somewhat skeptical that this book would be worthwhile, having been through the confessions a number of times and having Augustine's life story pretty much together in my own head. I thought an Augustine biography would be redundant, having already read the one written by the saint himself. For some reason, the stupidity of this attitude did not make itself aware immediately; fortunately, it only took the first few pages of Brown's book to disabuse me of my philistinism.
Brown's research is meticulous; he sculpts broad, arcing narratives within each section of Augustine's life, peppering the plot with abundant references to the man's letters and sermons, situating them within the rich context of provincial, African Christianity. The persistent and simultaneous tug of contemplative inclinations against pastoral, practical controversies within the flock is standard stuff of ancient ecclesiastical biographies, but Brown was able to get out of the way with enough tact to let the details of Augustine's personal story stand up in clear but ornate relief against the backdrop of 5th century Hippo, Carthage, and Rome. The two great controversies of Augustine's life--over Donatism and Pelagianism--stand like pillars on either side of his episcopal ministry, and I realized that prior to this biography I hadn't understood what was at stake in either of them, having approached them through an exclusively theological lens. Brown bestows a measure of flesh and blood on the controversialists, for which I am quite grateful. Learning of Augustine's own development, from an intense, almost rigorist neophyte to a venerable man of affairs deeply acquainted with the mysterious nature of human sin, softened the portrait of this brilliant and devoted Christian without diminishing any of his greatness. The melancholy of the crumbling late Roman empire overrun by invasion after invasion struck me with consistent force, and gave me a sense of the tragic feeling of futility that must have gnawed at those with responsibility to preserve and hand on civilization.
Augustine's literary executor, Possidius, said upon his death that "I think those who gained most from him were those who had been able actually to see and hear him as he spoke in Church, and, most of all, those who had some contact with the quality of his life among men." Having read this biography does little to ameliorate our lack of experience of him, but does inspire a deep desire to be faithful to the graces of one's own life, no matter where they lead, in confidence that the contribution one single person can make in all this madness is worthwhile, no matter how small.
Brown's research is meticulous; he sculpts broad, arcing narratives within each section of Augustine's life, peppering the plot with abundant references to the man's letters and sermons, situating them within the rich context of provincial, African Christianity. The persistent and simultaneous tug of contemplative inclinations against pastoral, practical controversies within the flock is standard stuff of ancient ecclesiastical biographies, but Brown was able to get out of the way with enough tact to let the details of Augustine's personal story stand up in clear but ornate relief against the backdrop of 5th century Hippo, Carthage, and Rome. The two great controversies of Augustine's life--over Donatism and Pelagianism--stand like pillars on either side of his episcopal ministry, and I realized that prior to this biography I hadn't understood what was at stake in either of them, having approached them through an exclusively theological lens. Brown bestows a measure of flesh and blood on the controversialists, for which I am quite grateful. Learning of Augustine's own development, from an intense, almost rigorist neophyte to a venerable man of affairs deeply acquainted with the mysterious nature of human sin, softened the portrait of this brilliant and devoted Christian without diminishing any of his greatness. The melancholy of the crumbling late Roman empire overrun by invasion after invasion struck me with consistent force, and gave me a sense of the tragic feeling of futility that must have gnawed at those with responsibility to preserve and hand on civilization.
Augustine's literary executor, Possidius, said upon his death that "I think those who gained most from him were those who had been able actually to see and hear him as he spoke in Church, and, most of all, those who had some contact with the quality of his life among men." Having read this biography does little to ameliorate our lack of experience of him, but does inspire a deep desire to be faithful to the graces of one's own life, no matter where they lead, in confidence that the contribution one single person can make in all this madness is worthwhile, no matter how small.
Read
May 1, 2012The best thing about Peter Brown is that he's an historian writing a biography. Sounds obvious, right? But he's not a psychologizing, or moralizing, or theologizing. He's historicizing.
This biography from the late '60s (his new edition left the original pretty much intact, and just added a preface and epilogue with information about recent discoveries of sermon texts and letter transcriptions, with the attendant implications in thought), was among the first to situate such a major figure from antiquity in the contemporary social, political and organizational structures. You can see, from almost the first moment of reading it, why this book influnced so many subsequent authors and editors: the scene is lively, the setting complex, and the tone--well, if it's not conversational, it's at lease collegial. You get the feeling that he's not trying to instruct you in something, but that he's exploring terrain with you. It may be a place where he's spent much time, but he's just as interested in developing new insights as you are.
For example: he reports on the inscriptions on gravestones current at Augustine's time, and connects that to the cultural attitudes and emphases that he might have met, combated, or assumed. He compares the inscriptions from Northern Africa to the inscriptions in Southern Europe, and both to those in the Middle East. Weaving this thread throughout the chapters, along with details about diet, transportation, fashion and entertainment, helps him build a convincing case about the character of Augustine himself, his changes in temperment and the development of his relationships, both with allies and enemies. Just when you start to wonder what he's missing, he critiques his own argument in the epilogue!
Simply a great read: stunning in scope, utterly original in bent, and still joyful in depth.
This biography from the late '60s (his new edition left the original pretty much intact, and just added a preface and epilogue with information about recent discoveries of sermon texts and letter transcriptions, with the attendant implications in thought), was among the first to situate such a major figure from antiquity in the contemporary social, political and organizational structures. You can see, from almost the first moment of reading it, why this book influnced so many subsequent authors and editors: the scene is lively, the setting complex, and the tone--well, if it's not conversational, it's at lease collegial. You get the feeling that he's not trying to instruct you in something, but that he's exploring terrain with you. It may be a place where he's spent much time, but he's just as interested in developing new insights as you are.
For example: he reports on the inscriptions on gravestones current at Augustine's time, and connects that to the cultural attitudes and emphases that he might have met, combated, or assumed. He compares the inscriptions from Northern Africa to the inscriptions in Southern Europe, and both to those in the Middle East. Weaving this thread throughout the chapters, along with details about diet, transportation, fashion and entertainment, helps him build a convincing case about the character of Augustine himself, his changes in temperment and the development of his relationships, both with allies and enemies. Just when you start to wonder what he's missing, he critiques his own argument in the epilogue!
Simply a great read: stunning in scope, utterly original in bent, and still joyful in depth.
January 19, 2014
The past is a foreign country. When we read history, we shouldn't seek to necessarily read moral tales and place ourselves at the helm. Instead, we must seek to have humility and strive to understand the characters in their place and time.
I had to constantly remind myself of this when reading Peter Brown's magisterial biography of Augustine of Hippo, or known affectionately by most as St. Augustine. Brown's prose and integration of source material in this biography is remarkable. At times, even beautiful. Yet, all that being said, this was an incredibly difficult book to read. Augustine is one of the most brilliant - if not *the* most brilliant - minds in the history of the Christian church, compiling a massive amount of intellectual material over the course of his life. The reader of Augustine needs to proceed with caution. Thus, doing justice to Augustine's legacy in under 500 pages is an accomplishment in and of itself. But within these 500 or so pages is not loose musings or thoughts but sentences loaded with thoughtfulness. Peter Brown writes with heavy prose. Readers beware.
All in all, this is an incredible book, but in attempting to traverse the mountain of Augustine's thought, by way of Peter Brown's leading, don't be surprised if you get altitude sickness - I know I did. The views are stunning but only if you can handle the headaches.
I had to constantly remind myself of this when reading Peter Brown's magisterial biography of Augustine of Hippo, or known affectionately by most as St. Augustine. Brown's prose and integration of source material in this biography is remarkable. At times, even beautiful. Yet, all that being said, this was an incredibly difficult book to read. Augustine is one of the most brilliant - if not *the* most brilliant - minds in the history of the Christian church, compiling a massive amount of intellectual material over the course of his life. The reader of Augustine needs to proceed with caution. Thus, doing justice to Augustine's legacy in under 500 pages is an accomplishment in and of itself. But within these 500 or so pages is not loose musings or thoughts but sentences loaded with thoughtfulness. Peter Brown writes with heavy prose. Readers beware.
All in all, this is an incredible book, but in attempting to traverse the mountain of Augustine's thought, by way of Peter Brown's leading, don't be surprised if you get altitude sickness - I know I did. The views are stunning but only if you can handle the headaches.
December 2, 2008
An excellent picture of the man and what shaped him. Brown is an adept biographer; his treatment of St. Augustine reads almost like a novel. I would be a lot more enthusiastic about biographies if they were this well-presented. This served as a great tool to prompt interest in Augustine's works, namely, his confessions and City of God.
August 1, 2018
Okudugum en iyi Augustinus biyografisi. Tumuyle antik kaynaklara dayanan bir kitap oldugu icin gonul rahatligiyla ciddi calismalarda kullanilabilir. Referanslar sayfa altinda veriliyor, gayet iyi bir kitap.
October 22, 2013
This is probably one of the best biography's I have ever read. It creates a realistic portrait of one of the most important figures in Christian history. I highly recommend!!
January 11, 2021
A powerful biography of a spiritual giant, Peter Brown wonderfully excavated the life of Saint Augustine, throwing into stark relief the complications of his life, the complexity of his thought, and the love that he possessed for his flock. This is the best resource on Augustine I have ever read, and strongly recommend it to those who love a good biography and want to learn about the most widely influential Christian to ever live after the New Testament period. Today his ideas are still applied, debated, and meticulously studied. Every major sect of Christianity claims Augustine as their champion, and argues for his support of their doctrines. This is because he thought broadly and openly about the Scriptures, constantly questioned himself, and saw the theology of Christ through a variety of perspectives.
This book was of great benefit to me as someone who has loved Augustine for a long time and read him since conversion! Thank you, Peter Brown.
This book was of great benefit to me as someone who has loved Augustine for a long time and read him since conversion! Thank you, Peter Brown.
April 16, 2024
Owen Chadwick proclaimed that Brown had “attained to the measure of his subject” which is the best endorsement that a biography can receive, and particularly difficult for a biography of this subject. Henry Chadwick later described this book as a “biography without the theology,” with which Brown agreed. The portrait of Augustine and his development is careful, sensitive, and brilliantly written. Scholarship has continued to progress but has not ceased to benefit from this book. The two chapters on “New Evidence” and “New Directions” are helpful addenda to this now-50 year old book. The “final word” on Augustine is impossible, so Brown’s biography is best if followed up by other studies and, of course, reading the primary sources.
On a personal note, I must say that reading and experiencing Augustine’s life in this way was a moving experience. It makes me all the more grateful for the grace of God and for the (not all flawless!) influence this man has enjoyed.
On a personal note, I must say that reading and experiencing Augustine’s life in this way was a moving experience. It makes me all the more grateful for the grace of God and for the (not all flawless!) influence this man has enjoyed.
July 22, 2021
Really enjoyable. Brown is a historian, not a theologian, which makes this a better biography (in my opinion). He contextualizes Augustine rather than focusing on his theology. This contextualization allows for a better understanding of the development of Augustine’s thoughts which led to his theology.
September 6, 2009
“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...
January 18, 2008
This is the definitive bio of Augustine. (What Bainton once was for Luther). The 2nd edition is a whole new work.
I met Peter Brown in Princeton, where he taught, a few times, and he just oozed brilliance. I have nothing new to add except an anecdote that tells it all. The story goes that Brown was so focused and mature that he came to the idea of writing this definitive critical bio of Augustine while in his early teens. He focused all of his energy on it, methodically begining to maste the secondary academic literature on Augustine before even beginning his university studies. He wrote this bio shortly after completlng his undergraduate honors thesis, publishing it to rave reviews in his early 20s.
This story has made him a legend. And once, Dr. Paul Rorem of Princeton Seminary told us, he asked Brown about it. Brown laughed and told an even more amazing one. Turns out the truth is 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 2 years ended up writing the definitive bio that changed the field forever!
The mag. opus of one of the world's great scholars.
I met Peter Brown in Princeton, where he taught, a few times, and he just oozed brilliance. I have nothing new to add except an anecdote that tells it all. The story goes that Brown was so focused and mature that he came to the idea of writing this definitive critical bio of Augustine while in his early teens. He focused all of his energy on it, methodically begining to maste the secondary academic literature on Augustine before even beginning his university studies. He wrote this bio shortly after completlng his undergraduate honors thesis, publishing it to rave reviews in his early 20s.
This story has made him a legend. And once, Dr. Paul Rorem of Princeton Seminary told us, he asked Brown about it. Brown laughed and told an even more amazing one. Turns out the truth is 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 2 years ended up writing the definitive bio that changed the field forever!
The mag. opus of one of the world's great scholars.
January 10, 2018
A work of art.
November 3, 2020
This excellent biography of the late neo-Platonist-turned-Christian was assigned reading for Dave Hassel's Philosophy of St. Augustine course during the first semester of 1981/82 at Loyola University Chicago. Having read all of the early and much of the later work of this western patristic figure, I found Brown's book extremely rewarding in providing a better sense of Augustine's background and political life as a church bureaucrat. Readers only familiar with his 'Confessions' will, however, not be lost as Brown presumes little knowledge of his readers.
For some greater account, informed by Brown to some extent, of my opinion of Augustine, see my review of the book entitled 'Augustine the Reader'.
For some greater account, informed by Brown to some extent, of my opinion of Augustine, see my review of the book entitled 'Augustine the Reader'.
February 8, 2016
St. Augustine served as a bridge between the late Roman Empire and the Middle Ages in Christian thought. Starting out as a Manichee in his youth (a religious sect who only believes in the New Testament), he later converted to Catholicism and became a Bishop in North Africa. His writings on Theology are considered to be classics and were extremely influential on Medieval thought in the church. In them he unites a neo-Platonist perspective with traditional church beliefs, giving the church a sophisticated philosophical belief system.
This book is not an easy read as a lot of St Augustine's Theology is complex, yet it is a satisfying read. Recommended for those who want to understand more about a seminal figure in the rise of the Catholic Church.
This book is not an easy read as a lot of St Augustine's Theology is complex, yet it is a satisfying read. Recommended for those who want to understand more about a seminal figure in the rise of the Catholic Church.
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