Confessions

In Confessions, Augustine of Hippo offers an unflinching account of his tumultuous journey from sinfulness toward spiritual enlightenment. This autobiographical masterpiece reveals Augustine's profound introspection as he navigates his transformation from a wayward young man in the provinces of North Africa to a prominent figure within the burgeoning Christian community in Roman Milan. Amid this journey, Augustine grapples with desires and ambitions, seeking solace in worldly pleasures and secular success before ultimately returning to the Christian faith instilled by his devout mother. His narrative poignantly explores themes of redemption, the struggle with personal vices, and the eternal quest for divine truth.

This seminal work not only captures Augustine's interior struggles but also reflects the broader human experience, making it resonate with contemporary readers. Augustine's innovative use of the confessional mode has influenced countless writers and continues to echo through literature today.

Sarah Ruden’s revolutionary translation of Confessions delivers Augustine's nuanced dialogue and emotional depth with a fresh vibrancy. Her interpretation taps into the original Latin’s linguistic subtleties, presenting a version that is both stylistically beautiful and historically authentic. By stripping away later theological interpretations, Ruden's translation invites modern readers to engage with Augustine’s work with newfound immediacy and clarity. Her work stands as the most faithful and transparent translation available, resonating with authenticity and grace.

Praise for Confessions

"[Ruden] has clearly thought deeply about what Augustine was trying to say." —The Wall Street Journal

"A translation of [Augustine’s] masterwork that does justice both to him and to his God . . . Repeated small acts of attention to the humble, human roots of Augustine’s imagery of his relations to God enable Ruden to convey a living sense of the Being before Whom we find him transfixed in prayer: ‘Silent, long-suffering and with so much mercy in your heart.’" —The New York Review of Books

"Delightfully readable . . . In this lively translation filled with vivid, personal prose, Ruden introduces readers to a saint whom many will realize they only thought they knew. . . . Approaching her subject with deep religious and historical knowledge, [Ruden] chooses to translate Augustine as a performative, engaging storyteller rather than a systematic theologian." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Ruden’s translation makes Augustine’s ancient text accessible to a new generation of readers with a real taste of the original Latin." —Library Journal

"[Ruden’s] record as a translator of ancient texts . . . clearly establishes her considerable talent." —Christianity Today