Let in the Light: Learning to Read St. Augustine's Confessions

St. Augustines Confessions is a classic of Western culture, but when read in translation, it can seem dull. James Boyd White's book, Let in the Light, encourages readers to read the text in Latin to experience its originality and depth. He offers an accessible guide to reading the text line by line, even for those who have never studied the language. The book considers how the form and nuances of the Latin text allow greater insight into the work and its author, and how to read Augustines prose with care and imagination. It brings new life to a classic work, guiding readers to experience the immediacy, urgency, and vitality of Augustines Confessions.

Format: Hardback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 12 April 2022
Publisher: Columbia University Press

St. Augustine's Confessions is widely regarded as a cornerstone of Western culture. However, when James Boyd White first attempted to read it in translation, he found it utterly dull. The ideas seemed trite, and the prose felt lifeless. It wasn't until he started reading the text in Latin that he began to appreciate the originality and depth of Augustine's work.

In Let in the Light, White invites readers to embark on a close and immersive journey through the Confessions, experiencing its power and profundity by reading at least some of it in Augustine's own language. He provides an accessible guide to reading the text in Latin, line by line, even for those without prior knowledge of the language. Equally attentive to the individual meanings of words and the broader cultural currents of Augustine's era, Let in the Light explores how the form and nuances of the Latin text offer deeper insights into the work and its author. White guides readers to read Augustine's prose with care and imagination, rewarding sustained attention and fostering broader reflection.

Let in the Light breathes new life into a timeless classic, guiding readers to encounter the immediacy, urgency, and vitality of Augustine's Confessions. By delving into the text in its original language, readers are able to engage more deeply with Augustine's thoughts and experiences, gaining a deeper understanding of his spiritual journey and the enduring significance of his work.

Dimension: 216 x 140 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231205009