The Confessions, written at the close of the 4th century CE, is a highly significant text in the history of European culture. It explains just how and why Augustine came to abandon a successful career and the personal enjoyments of a largely secular existence to follow a life of prayer and study, leading to a true comprehension of God and the Bible. This introductory book's approach is basically historical--to set Augustine's own experiences of religion, philosophy and Christian faith against the long-standing political, cultural and religious traditions of the classical world. The world in which Augustine lived, the structure, style and purpose of The Confessions, and the problems of rhetoric and truth posed by its author's personal search for himself are all scrutinized in this account.