The City of God: Books 11-22 (I/7) (The Works of Saint Augustine: A Translation for the 21st Century)
This is a magnificent new translation, sure to be welcomed by readers of Augustine old and new. It is certainly worthy of a place among the great translations of this work, offering an eminently readable and accurate rendition. One forgets one is reading a translation -- isn't that the goal of all great translating? Highly recommended. --John Cavadini, Professor of Theology and Director of the Institute for Church Life, University of Notre DameThis lucid translation of Augustine's complicated Latin text, complemented by an expert introduction and helpful notes, is a remarkable achievement indeed. A new jewel in the crown of the meantime famous and worldwide highly appreciated series! --Johannes van Oort, Editor ofVigiliae Christianae; Author ofJerusalem and Babylon(1991; paperback: Leiden-Boston 2012)City of Godis read by theologians and philosophers, classicists and historians of ideas. All will be grateful to William Babcock for his new subheadings and summaries, which trace the articulations of Augustine's carefully connected argument. Babcock's long reflection and deep understanding, expressed in his outstanding Introduction, shape every sentence of this clear and thoughtful translation. --Gillian Clark, Professor Emerita, University of Bristol; Co-editor,Oxford Early Christian StudiesWilliam Babcock'sCity of Godis likely to become the new standard thanks to a first-rate introduction, helpful scholarly aids, a substantial index, and a translation into a contemporary English that is clear enough for students to understand yet reliably close to the original. --Paul R. Kolbet, Lecturer in Early Christianity, Yale University; Author of Augustine and the Cure of Souls (Notre Dame 2010)The monumentalCity of Godhas astonishingly relevant things to say to an age of postmodernism, secularism, multiculturalism and globalisation. This affordable new translation with useful notes will make this masterpiece accessible to the 21st century reader. --Karla Pollmann, Professor of Classics, University of St. Andrews[T]his translation fully justifies the praise that has already been heaped on it. Lyrical without any sacrifice of sense, it compares consistently well with both Dyson and Bettenson and is certainly the most beautiful and up-to-date of the existing versions ... Augustine used multiple Latin versions of the Bible besides Jerome's, including his own, and one great advantage of the edition under review is that, where past translators have used pre-existent English versions of the Vulgate for scriptural citations, Babcock renders each scriptural quotation directly and individually ... Babcock takes the unique step of removing the titular headings which have formed an integral part of the work since the first printed edition, but which are in all probability non-authorial ... [the] absence has a clarifying effect ... The notes are comprehensive enough to suffice for any level of reader and are given as footnotes for ease of reference (neatly including the kind of material on key people and events that is glossarial in the Cambridge University Press edition) ... [A] truly new, elegant and intelligent translation well worth both the committed Augustinian s and the neophyte's while. --Arabella Milbank, inMarginalia(the Journal of the Medieval Reading Group at the University of Cambridge)City of Godis read by theologians and philosophers, classicists and historians of ideas. All will be grateful to William Babcock for his new subheadings and summaries, which trace the articulations of Augustine's carefully connected argument. Babcock's long reflection and deep understanding, expressed in his outstanding Introduction, shape every sentence of this clear and thoughtful trans --Gillian Clark, Professor Emerita, University of Bristol; Co-editor, Oxford Early Christian Studies[T]his translation fully justifies the praise that has already been heaped on it. Lyrical without any sacrifice of sense, it compares consistently well with both Dyson and Bettenson and is certainly the most beautiful and up-to-date of the existing versions ... Augustine used multiple Latin versions of the Bible besides Jerome's, including his own, and one great advantage of the edition under review is that, where past translators have used pre-existent English versions of the Vulgate for scriptural citations, Babcock renders each scriptural quotation directly and individually ... Babcock takes the unique step of removing the titular headings which have formed an integral part of the work since the first printed edition, but which are in all probability non-authorial ... [the] absence has a clarifying effect ... The notes are comprehensive enough to suffice for any level of reader and are given as footnotes for ease of reference (neatly including the kind of material on key people and events that is glossarial in the Cambridge University Press edition) ... [A] truly new, elegant and intelligent translation well worth both the committed Augustinian s and the neophyte's while. --Arabella Milbank, inMarginalia(the Journal of the Medieval Reading Group at the University of Cambridge)City of Godis read by theologians and philosophers, classicists and historians of ideas. All will be grateful to William Babcock for his new subheadings and summaries, which trace the articulations of Augustine's carefully connected argument. Babcock's long reflection and deep understanding, expressed in his outstanding Introduction, shape every sentence of this clear and thoughtful translation. --Gillian Clark, Professor Emerita, University of Bristol; Co-editor, Oxford Early Christian Studies