by St Augustine
First published 2003
Augustine confronts the collapse of Rome and the crisis facing Christian civilization. Writing in the fifth century as barbarian armies threaten the empire, he develops his theory of two opposing realms that govern human existence. One city represents earthly power, built on self-love and doomed to destruction. The other embodies divine justice, founded on love of God and destined for eternity. Augustine argues that Christians must navigate between these competing loyalties while living in a fallen world. He examines how political institutions, social relationships, and individual choices reflect this fundamental division. The work emerges from Augustine's need to defend Christianity against pagan critics who blamed the new faith for Rome's decline. His response becomes a comprehensive framework for understanding history, politics, and human nature that will dominate Western thought for centuries.
Genres: classics, philosophy, christian, historical-fiction, ancient-history, academic
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: unreliable-narrator
Setting: Rome
Period: 5th Century
1186 pages · Paperback · Penguin Books Ltd