As the Roman Empire crumbled around him, Augustine of Hippo emerged as one of the most brilliant and influential minds in Christian history. Philosopher, pastor, preacher and saint, he wrestled with the deepest questions of human existence: the search for truth, the problem of evil, the power of desire, the mystery of grace, and the nature of God.
In this engaging and authoritative study, Patrick Whitworth traces Augustine's remarkable journey from restless student and seeker in Roman North Africa to bishop of Hippo during an age of political upheaval and cultural collapse. Along the way, readers encounter the dramatic story of his conversion, his battles with the Manichaeans, Donatists and Pelagians, and the enduring legacy of masterpieces such as Confessions, The City of God and On the Trinity.
Drawing on a lifetime of scholarship and enriched by visits to the places where Augustine lived and worked, Whitworth brings vividly to life the world Augustine lost and the faith he found. The result is a compelling portrait of a thinker whose insights into the human heart, society and the love of God remain as relevant today as they were sixteen centuries ago.
