Oxford Very Short Introductions Augustine was arguably the greatest early Christian philosopher. His teachings had a profound effect on Medieval scholarship, Renaissance humanism, and the religious controversies of both the Reformation and the Counter-Reformation. By his writings, the surviving bulk of which exceeds that of any other ancient author, Augustine came to influence not only his contemporaries but also the West. This Very Short Introduction traces the development of Augustine's thought, discussing his reaction to the thinkers before him, and themes such as freedom, creation, and the trinity. Henry Chadwick places Augustine in his philosophical and religious context and traces the history of his influence both within and beyond the Christian tradition. Henry Chadwick was Regius Professor of Divinity, University of Cambridge and translator of Saint Augustine: Confessions (1991).
