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Title: Informative, Insightful, Interesting, Not Introductory
Review: This deceptively small book contains a wealth of information about the life and thought of one of the foundational thinkers of the Christian Church. Wills approaches Augustine in new, unexpected, informed and refreshing ways. He gives new and vivid translations to old words, new names to nameless people and misnamed books, new life to old phrases, new slants to a character and thought we presumed we were familiar with. He is especially good talking about Augustine's youth which turns out to have been not as bad as our imaginations fancied, and his doctrines not quite as dour and obsessed with sex, and his mother not quite so possessive and controlling. It is a good and insightful read especially for those who are already familiar with Augustine's milieu who have acquired enough of a false impression to appreciate being disabused. Anyone looking for an "introductory" work may well bog down here and there.
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