Queens of a fallen world : the lost women of Augustine's Confessions / Kate Cooper.
| Author/creator | Cooper, Kate, 1960- author. |
| Format | Book |
| Edition | First edition. |
| Publication | New York [New York] : Basic Books, April 2023. |
| Copyright Date | ©2023 |
| Description | ix, 290 pages : black and white illustrations, maps ; 25 cm |
| Subjects |
| Contents | Prologue: A child without a name -- Part 1, Four women. Justina ; Tacita ; Monnica ; Una -- Part 2, Things fall apart. A son of Africa ; The Empress and the Bishop ; The heiress ; Remedy for a broken heart ; The long way home -- Part 3, The aftermath. Trouble in paradise -- Epilogue. |
| Abstract | "While many know of the great Christian bishop St. Augustine of Hippo, few consider the deeply influential women in his life. Drawing upon their depictions in his startlingly intimate memoir, the Confessions, it becomes clear that Augustine's canonical Western text goes beyond autobiography to reveal a history of the classical world as seen through the eyes of women. More than an iconic figurehead, Augustine was also a young man torn between the pangs of love and the pull of ambition. 'Queens of a fallen world' tells the story of Augustine and four prominent women in his life: his mother, Monnica of Thagaste; his lover and the mother of his child; the fiancée from whom he broke his engagement; and Justina, the troubled empress of ancient Rome. Parsing the Confessions, historian Kate Cooper corrects misreadings and uses the stories of these four women to interrogate and illuminate women's role in the late Roman Empire, and more broadly in antiquity. Pulling each of these threads into a tapestry of their lives, she paints a portrait of the world they and Augustine moved through, ultimately making the case that Augustine did not end his engagement because he was called by God, but rather that he considered that potential marriage to be an unconscionable betrayal of his lover. Drawing on extensive new research and brilliantly told, 'Queens of a fallen world' is essential reading for those looking for a new understanding of not only Augustine, but of the women who shaped his life."-- Provided by publisher. |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (pages 247-273) and index. |
| Issued in other form | Online version: Cooper, Kate, 1960- Queens of a fallen world. First edition. New York : Basic Books, 2023 9781541646001 |
| Genre/form | Biographies. |
| Genre/form | Informational works. |
| Genre/form | Illustrated works. |
| Genre/form | Documents d'information. |
| Genre/form | Biographies. |
| Genre/form | Ouvrages illustrés. |
| LCCN | 2022035349 |
| ISBN | 9781541646018 (hardcover) |
| ISBN | 1541646010 (hardcover) |
| ISBN | (hardcover ; international) |
| ISBN | (hardcover ; international) |
| ISBN | (paperback ; international) |
| ISBN | (electronic book) |
| ISBN | (electronic book) |
| Standard identifier# | 40031821439 |
Availability
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joyner | General Stacks | BR65.A9 C595 2023 | ✔ Available | Place Hold |