Often called the “first autobiography,” Augustine’s Confessions is part spiritual tell-all and part theological and philosophical opus. But it wasn't immediately one of Augustine's most read or most beloved works. In this talk, Prof. Lauren Mancia (Brooklyn College, CUNY) will explore moments in history when the Confessions was revived and reinterpreted anew. She will explain why it wasn't until the eleventh century that Christians regularly read the Confessions, when there was a greater interest in the emotional and psychological dimensions of religious life. She will also explore the legacy of the Confessions for Christians like Petrarch, autobiographers like Rousseau, and thinkers like Derrida.

This dinner seminar is open to all undergraduates, graduate students, and recent graduates. It is one of many Living the Core seminars this semester, examining broader questions in light of the texts and authors of Columbia’s Core Curriculum.