The Confessions of St. Augustine

The Confessions of St. Augustine

Augustine, of Hippo, Saint and E. B. (Edward Bouverie) Pusey (354-430)

Approximate level
C1
Length
112,197 words
Reading time
9 h 21 min
Chapters
13
Language
English
On Project Gutenberg since
2002

This autobiography explores the spiritual journey of Saint Augustine. Written in the fifth century and translated in the nineteenth, the text uses formal, philosophical, and theological vocabulary. The sentences are often long and complex, featuring rhetorical questions and intricate logical structures. The themes focus on faith, human nature, and the search for divine truth. This book is a demanding read because of its archaic style and abstract subject matter, requiring careful attention to the structure of each argument.

69,657 downloads on Project Gutenberg

Subjects

  • Augustine, of Hippo, Saint, 354-430
  • Christian saints -- Algeria -- Hippo (Extinct city) -- Biography
  • Catholic Church -- Bishops -- Biography
  • Bishops -- Algeria -- Hippo (Extinct city) -- Biography

Questions about this book

What level of English do I need for this book?

The estimate is C1, based on how common the words are and how long the sentences run. It is an approximation, not a test result. With a translation under every sentence you can start one level earlier than you would with a paper copy.

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How long does it take to read?

About 9 h 21 min at a native pace, spread over 13 chapters. In a foreign language plan for more: half an hour a day finishes a book of this size in a few weeks.

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Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain.