Confessions

Oxford World's Classics

By: St. Augustine, Henry Chadwick

Narrated by: S. D. Cousins

Length: 14 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

In his own day the dominant personality of the Western Church, Augustine of Hippo today stands as perhaps the greatest thinker of Christian antiquity, and his Confessions is one of the great works of Western literature. In this intensely personal narrative, Augustine relates his rare ascent from a humble Algerian farm to the edge of the corridors of power at the imperial court in Milan, his struggle against the domination of his sexual nature, his renunciation of secular ambition and marriage, and the recovery of the faith his mother Monica had taught him during his childhood.

Now, Henry Chadwick, an eminent scholar of early Christianity, has given us the first new English translation in 30 years of this classic spiritual journey. Chadwick renders the details of Augustine's conversion in clear, modern English. We witness the future saint's fascination with astrology and with the Manichees, and then follow him through scepticism and disillusion with pagan myths until he finally reaches Christian faith. There are brilliant philosophical musings about Platonism and the nature of God, and touching portraits of Augustine's beloved mother, of St. Ambrose of Milan, and of other early Christians like Victorinus, who gave up a distinguished career as a rhetorician to adopt the orthodox faith. Augustine's concerns are often strikingly contemporary, yet his work contains many references and allusions that are easily understood only with background information about the ancient social and intellectual setting. To make the Confessions accessible to contemporary listeners, Chadwick provides the most complete and informative notes of any recent translation and includes an introduction to establish the context.

The religious and philosophical value of the Confessions is unquestionable - now modern listeners will have easier access to St. Augustine's deeply personal meditations. Chadwick's lucid translation and helpful introduction clear the way for a new experience of this classic.

©1991 Henry Chadwick (P)2021 Upfront Books

Beautiful

Amazingly deep and spiritually fulfilling. The Narrator has an extremely soothing voice combined with the genius of Augustine is an experience for any person seeking wisdom within the Christian faith and traditions.

Incredible

Incredible. I expect I will return to Confessions many times throughout my life. Augustine offers wisdom on many different topics. Coming to faith, challenges given to his Christian mother, spiritual formation and discipleship, and philosophies of mind, time, and creation. Much on Genesis 1. Wonderful prayer for understanding toward the end of XI.

Classic

There is a reason why this is considered one of the greatest works in literary history!

Superb Translation

The almost King-James-Like translation this text is typically translated in has always been a barrier to understanding the work of this profound and saintly author, but Henry Chadwick has done a fantastic job of making a more accessible translation for the uninitiated to this form of archaic English.

The book itself is excellent, however the last 4 chapters are quite long and philosophical. In my opinion they don’t seem to connect well with Augustine’s autobiographical account through the beginnings of the book. Even still, this is a must read for all Christians who desire to be encouraged by God’s work in his people, even if it be many centuries ago.

Accessible and enjoyable

Great modern translation. Augustine was a genius (maybe too much?), and his confessions are devotional and heart searching. However, the end of his writings on Genesis are a theological and hermeneutical mess. Just something you have to deal with when reading the early church fathers.

A review on Confession by St. Augustine

Considered by many the first written biography, St. Augustine does a wonderful job weaving biography, his inner turmoil with sin, and rich theological truths.

Confessions give a better understanding to those that practiced as Augustinian monks such as Martin Luther, their honesty and self doubt when faced with the reality that one is not “good” apart from God.

The chapters on his conversion and death of Monica were moving.

Good voice, terrible mispronunciations

The reader ought to have consulted basically any classics, history, or philosophy professor on how to pronounce many terms and names, including some from ordinary English. “Manichees,” “Plotinus,” and many other terms are repeatedly butchered.

best translation

This is by far the best translation of Confessions into modern language. I enjoyed it immensely.

Powerful usage of language to describe intricacies of his thoughts.

You feel like you're inside his head. He is so transparent, it's intimate. It's an intensely beautiful love expression to his God revealing his inner most thoughts and feelings. It feels so private and yet he offers it up for all to see in the hope that others come to feast on the faith that is his life.
Listen and be swept away.

Enriching & Edifying

A Christian classic. It was beneficial and enriching to read the early works of a church father who became so influential to the Church, theology, and practice.

The writing style in the Oxford University Press edition, translated by Henry Chadwick is very good, modern, and understandable.

The writing style of Augustine is different from modern standards. It is a mix of poetry, prose, autobiography, and Scripture quotation wrapped into his thought and voice. It can become hard to follow Augustine, at times when he speaks figuratively or allegorically. What he is saying may not be readily apparent to modern readers until they realize that he is speaking figuratively about his subject. For the vast majority of the work, a modern reader will be pleased to know they will understand most of what Augustine is saying. There are two major confessions that may be challenging for the modern reader: (1) when he speaks about time and (2) when he figuratively expounds on the Genesis creation story. The reader will be met with a cascade of thoughts that seem to be run-on in nature, staccato in pace, and boundless in depth. Do not fear - absorb what you can and reference the excellent footnotes for help, and keep turning the page. There is no need to get bogged down by abstract thoughts, which might be alien and foreign to modern readers' sensibilities.

Overall, it is well worth the time, effort, and energy to read Saint Augustine's Confessions at least once in your life. You will be enriched by its beauty and light.

I bought the audiobook and the physical book and read along with the narrator. It took me five days to complete the book.