Louis Bertrand

Saint Augustin, entre ombre et lumi re. Louis Bertrand, crivain et acad micien fran ais, nous offre ici une biographie de l'une des figures les plus embl matiques de l'Antiquit chr tienne: Saint Augustin. Nous invitant rencontrer l'homme avant le saint, il nous dresse un portrait attachant de cette personnalit complexe, tourment e. De son enfance Thagaste, en Afrique du Nord romaine, sa mort en passant par sa conversion et son sacre en tant qu' v que d'Hippone, vous d couvrirez ses errances morales et philosophiques, ses passions, ses forces et ses faiblesses, mais surtout sa qu te effr n e de v rit . Ce r cit, alliant rigueur acad mique une plume po tique captivante, se distingue des hagiographies conventionnelles. Plus qu'un simple t moignage historique, cette oeuvre singuli re permet de r v ler les dilemmes existentiels et spirituels de cette figure de l' glise, la fin de l'empire Romain, poque marqu e par de profonds bouleversements religieux et politiques. Cette plong e captivante dans les racines m mes du christianisme et de la pens e occidentale redonne vie cette figure marquante de la chr tient . Saint Augustin, par sa vie extraordinaire et ses nombreux ouvrages (La Cit de Dieu, Les Confessions, De la Trinit ...), a laiss un h ritage spirituel immense tous les croyants. Il a marqu et continue de marquer la philosophie et la th ologie occidentale. Saint Augustin est un homme qui n'a jamais v cu de mani re superficielle; la soif, la recherche tourment e et constante de la V rit est l'une des caract ristiques de fond de son existence... - Beno t XVI, Audience g n rale du 25 ao t 2010.

Saint Augustine: Between Shadow and LightLouis Bertrand, French writer and member of the Acad mie fran aise, presents here a biography of one of the most emblematic figures of early Christian antiquity: Saint Augustine. He invites us to meet the man before the saint, offering an endearing portrait of this complex, tormented personality. From his childhood in Thagaste, in Roman North Africa, to his death, passing through his conversion and consecration as Bishop of Hippo, you will discover his moral and philosophical wanderings, his passions, his strengths, and his weaknesses, but above all, his relentless quest for truth. This narrative, blending scholarly rigor with a captivating poetic style, stands apart from conventional hagiographies. More than just a historical account, this singular work unveils the existential and spiritual dilemmas of this Church figure, at the twilight of the Roman Empire-a time marked by profound religious and political upheaval. It is a compelling exploration into the very roots of Christianity and Western thought, breathing new life into this towering figure of Christendom. Through his extraordinary life and numerous works (The City of God, The Confessions, On the Trinity...), Saint Augustine has left an immense spiritual legacy for all believers. His influence continues to shape Western philosophy and theology. The English translation by Vincent O'Sullivan does justice to Bertrand's eloquent prose, capturing both the depth of thought and the poetic resonance of the original French text. O'Sullivan's nuanced understanding of both languages allows him to convey the complexity of Saint Augustine's inner struggles, while maintaining the vividness of Bertrand's narrative style, making this translation as compelling as the original." Saint Augustine is a man who never lived superficially; the thirst, the tormented and constant search for Truth, is one of the fundamental characteristics of his existence..." - Pope Benedict XVI, General Audience, August 25, 2010.