The earliest and most excellent example of an Autobiography is the "Confessions" of St. Augustine of Hippo. This beautifully written life of a saint is the foremost example of how a great sinner can become a great saint. St. Augustine is the exemplar of someone who came from a very broken lifestyle to finding meaning and purpose as a Christian, it is also a great work of theology in its own right, especially the last few chapters, which deal with themes such as time, and creation in a movingly poetic way. Augustine's moving account of his mother St. Monica's death is very moving and the key moment when he heard the still small voice of God "pick up and read" is some of the most beautiful writing in all of Christian literature.
I firmly believe every educated person should read the "Confessions" before they die, it is a work of paramount importance to western civilization, because it served as a template for future Christian as well as non-Christian autobiographies, and memoirs. His combination of scriptural and theological meditation interwoven with his personal testimony gives Augustine's writing depth you rarely come across. Augustine's life gives all people hope especially those from troubled backgrounds, or those stuck in the sickness of addiction, it shows there is always hope for those who stray and that there is always a better future in God's world.
Works Cited
Confessions , Saint Augustine, trans, Chadwick Henry (Oxord World's Classics, Oxford University Press)
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