Augustine, sinner and saint, the theologian who served as bishop of Hippo from 396 C.E. until his death in 430 C.E., is widely regarded as one of the most influential thinkers in the western world. During his post-Confessions years he became prominent as a churchman, politician, and writer, and O'Donnell looks back at the events in the Confessions from this period in Augustine's life. Much of Augustine's writing consists of sermons and letters about the events of his time: prosperous men converting to Christianity to get ahead, priests covering up sexual and financial peccadilloes, generals playing coldly calculated games of Roman geopolitics--these are the figures who stand out in Augustine's world and who populate O'Donnell's portrait, set against a background of the battle over the future of Christianity.--From publisher description.

The view from Africa -- Augustine confesses -- A modern classic -- Augustine unvarnished -- Augustine in his books -- Augustine in public -- Augustine and the invention of Christianity -- The Augustinian putsch in Africa -- Loomings -- Augustine's great failure -- Augustine the theologians -- Who was Augustine?.