Augustine’s Confessions (probably written between 397 and 401 CE) is widely considered “a classic of modern literature” (O’Donnell 2005: 63) and remains one of the most popular and accessible works from the ancient world. It is a confession of sin as well as a confession of faith and of praise to God. Displaying a degree of introspection unknown in earlier literature, it is commonly described as the first modern autobiography. There are various reasons why readers today (those who know Latin, but also those who have no background in the classics and only have access to the translation) still respond emotionally and intellectually to this fascinating work.
It may be, above all, Augustine’s uncanny ability to …
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Citation: Kotzé , Annemaré . "Confessions". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 26 March 2012 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=5912, accessed 22 November 2024.]
