The son of a pagan father and a Christian mother, Saint Augustine spent his early years torn between conflicting faiths and world views. His confessions, written when he was to turn away from his youthful ideas and licentious lifestyle, to become instead a staunch advocate of Christianity and one of its most influencial thinkers. A remarkably honest and revealing spiritual autobiography, the Confesions also address fundamental issues of christian doctrine, and many of the prayers and meditations it includes are still an intergral part of the practice of Christianity today.

In this introduction R. S. Pine-Coffin discusses Saint Augustine's intention in writing his Confessions and the issues of translation. This edition also includes a list of dates of events recorded in the confessions.