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Rating: 
Summary: An August Achievement
Review: 'Augustine through the Ages' is one of those big, thick, $100 books that one longs to have in a private library (particularly the private library of someone with a catholic-leaning theological interest). I debated about the book for nearly a year until a friend of mine finally put the issue to rest by getting it for me for my birthday a few years ago. I've now had sufficient time and use of the volume to warrant giving an opinion. I am sorry that I waited so long to add this book to my collection! ' "Augustine through the Ages" presents anew the life, work, and influence of Augustine of Hippo (A.D. 354-430), one of the greatest figures in the history of the Christian church. Best known to modern readers for his "Confessions" and "City of God," Augustine has had a profound theological and philosophical impact on the Christian faith, and his legacy is also reflected in the development of Western thought as a whole.' This book is organised and functions as an encyclopedia. Over 150 scholars in fields such as history, classics, theology, philosophy and political science have contributed to making this a very comprehensive and in-depth reference work. The contents include nearly 500 articles with appropriate bibliographic references for further research. Entries involve his life, his work, and his influence. A few samples will illustrate: His life: Life, Culture and Controversies
In this entry, a brief biography of Augustine is present, from birth in Thagaste in 354, in the province of Numidia, to his death in 430 in Hippo, as it was under siege from Vandal invaders. It details the major events and influences in his life, as well as the general cultural milieu of the time - education under the Roman system, the relationship of church and empire, and the influence of philosophy, particularly Neoplatonism. The controversies of his time, in which Augustine energetically participated, included the Arian, Donatist, Pelagian and Manichean trends. His work: Confessions
This entry gives an overview of the 'Confessions', the most popular and widely-read of Augustine for twentieth-century audiences. As a result of this autobiographical work, the youth of Augustine is far better known than almost any other person in antiquity. The article includes translation and publication issues (the question about oral or written primacy is explored), as are the differing purposes of sections (autobiographical, polemical, exegetical). This work covers conversion and growth in faith and work. His influence
Articles are included on those who influenced Augustine himself, such as Origen, Tertullian, Plotinus, and Plato, as well as upon those he influenced, from early figures such as Jerome and Ambrose, to later theologians like Aquinas, Luther, and Calvin, up to more modern figures such as Adolf von Harnack, Ernst Troeltsch, and Martin Heidegger. Similarly, Augustine's contributions toward topics that are of current (and recurring) interest such as social justice, war, suicide, contraception, etc. are explored. The book also includes tables Augustine's works which show Latin titles, English translations, common abbreviations (very necessary for scholarship) and dates. Articles are cross-references, particularly with a view toward shared bibliographic information. The editor, Allan D. Fitzgerald is professor of patristics at the Augustinian Patristic Institute of Rome. He also is editor of Augustinian Studies published by Villanova University. Jaroslav Pelikan offers a word at the front, which is an interesting choice, given Pelikan's Eastern Orthodox leanings, and the strained love-hate relationship Eastern Orthodoxy has traditionally had with Augustine. This is a truly monumental work that will find an honoured place in the library of any scholar.
Rating:
Summary: An outstanding edition. . .
Review: . . .which will be of value to Augustine scholars for many years to come. The purpose of the encyclopedia is to provide a one-volume reference to Augustine, his life, his thought, his teachings, and his books. What did he believe about a particular doctrine? Look up the doctrine, get a synopsis of his thought, and find the appropriate reference(s) in his writings. Wonderful for both Catholics and Protestants, esp. those branches of Protestantism which revere Augustine. Applicable for the layman or the cleric; for the serious student as well as for someone who simply wishes to be informed. I highly recommend this volume.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointment
Review: Having read info on this title my expectations were fairly high. My library not having a dedicated book on Augustine was lacking. It still is! This might be an OK purchase as a shelf companion to MANY other volumes on this topic. As a stand-alone I think not. Promises of books for further study in the bibliographies after each topic is largely a joke. Take 'predestination' for instance - not too many English titles here. Why? One suspects to hide the commercial 'scholarship' of the click, paste and rehash Eerdman editorial style of publishing. Take how Theisson's 'Lectures in Systematic Theology' revised by Doerksen as an example where Thiessen's work was adulterated to accommodate a broad theological market. For those familiar with Eerdmans editorial books (This claims to be an Encycleopedia !?!) the tradition continues. If you've got lots of Augustine books on your shelf, this book may help to tie up loose ends. However, a back cover reviewer correctly says about this book, 'the starting point for further research.' I agree as this sums up the depth of this book - pity about the bibliography though as mentioned above. (Yes, I admit I expect to see Latin references and the like.)
If this is your first book on the topic, you may be better off considering other titles. For all what the book claims to be - a lightweight. Certainly I shall keep it as a reference, but I would not have purchased it given the opportunity to browse first.
Rating:
Summary: The Single Best Volume on Augustine Available
Review: This is, hands down, the best single volume on the life, work, ideas, and history of Augustine available. Not only does this reference work cover the period in which Augustine lived, but it also covers the periods in which Augustine had an impact. This book is very organized with charts of Augustine's works, and of course it covers the entire spectrum of Augustinian philosophy and theology from A to Z. This book is so detailed that many unexpected topics such as abortion to war are covered. The book is well referenced which enables the reader to launch into further works that have been used in compiling this massive volume. If you have been wanting a single volume that works well for quick references to detailed studies then this is the ONLY volume of its kind in print. I highly recommend this work for those who enjoy studying Augustine.
Rating:
Summary: An August Achievement
Review: `Augustine through the Ages' is one of those big, thick, $100 books that one longs to have in a private library (particularly the private library of someone with a catholic-leaning theological interest). I debated about the book for nearly a year until a friend of mine finally put the issue to rest by getting it for me for my birthday a few years ago. I've now had sufficient time and use of the volume to warrant giving an opinion. I am sorry that I waited so long to add this book to my collection! ` "Augustine through the Ages" presents anew the life, work, and influence of Augustine of Hippo (A.D. 354-430), one of the greatest figures in the history of the Christian church. Best known to modern readers for his "Confessions" and "City of God," Augustine has had a profound theological and philosophical impact on the Christian faith, and his legacy is also reflected in the development of Western thought as a whole.' This book is organised and functions as an encyclopedia. Over 150 scholars in fields such as history, classics, theology, philosophy and political science have contributed to making this a very comprehensive and in-depth reference work. The contents include nearly 500 articles with appropriate bibliographic references for further research. Entries involve his life, his work, and his influence. A few samples will illustrate: His life: Life, Culture and Controversies
In this entry, a brief biography of Augustine is present, from birth in Thagaste in 354, in the province of Numidia, to his death in 430 in Hippo, as it was under siege from Vandal invaders. It details the major events and influences in his life, as well as the general cultural milieu of the time - education under the Roman system, the relationship of church and empire, and the influence of philosophy, particularly Neoplatonism. The controversies of his time, in which Augustine energetically participated, included the Arian, Donatist, Pelagian and Manichean trends. His work: Confessions
This entry gives an overview of the `Confessions', the most popular and widely-read of Augustine for twentieth-century audiences. As a result of this autobiographical work, the youth of Augustine is far better known than almost any other person in antiquity. The article includes translation and publication issues (the question about oral or written primacy is explored), as are the differing purposes of sections (autobiographical, polemical, exegetical). This work covers conversion and growth in faith and work. His influence
Articles are included on those who influenced Augustine himself, such as Origen, Tertullian, Plotinus, and Plato, as well as upon those he influenced, from early figures such as Jerome and Ambrose, to later theologians like Aquinas, Luther, and Calvin, up to more modern figures such as Adolf von Harnack, Ernst Troeltsch, and Martin Heidegger. Similarly, Augustine's contributions toward topics that are of current (and recurring) interest such as social justice, war, suicide, contraception, etc. are explored. The book also includes tables Augustine's works which show Latin titles, English translations, common abbreviations (very necessary for scholarship) and dates. Articles are cross-references, particularly with a view toward shared bibliographic information. The editor, Allan D. Fitzgerald is professor of patristics at the Augustinian Patristic Institute of Rome. He also is editor of Augustinian Studies published by Villanova University. Jaroslav Pelikan offers a word at the front, which is an interesting choice, given Pelikan's Eastern Orthodox leanings, and the strained love-hate relationship Eastern Orthodoxy has traditionally had with Augustine. This is a truly monumental work that will find an honoured place in the library of any scholar.
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