Confessions: A New Translation by Sarah Ruden

Drawing readers closer to Augustine's intent than any previous version, Sarah Ruden's fresh, dynamic translation of Confessions puts a glaring spotlight on the life of one individual to show how all lives have meaning that is universal and eternal. In this intensely personal narrative, Augustine recounts the story of his sinful youth to his conversion to Christianity. Augustine's concerns are often strikingly contemporary, and the confessional mode he invented can be seen everywhere in writing today.

Grounded in her command of Latin as it was written and spoken in the ancient world, Sarah Ruden's translation is a bold departure from its predecessors—and the most historically accurate translation ever. Stylistically beautiful, with no concessions made to suit later theology and ritual, Ruden's rendition will give readers a startling and illuminating new perspective on one of the central texts of Christianity.