• Henry Chadwick is one of the foremost authorities on Early Christianity
• Augustine is a key figure in the transition from pagan to specifically Christian philosophy
• As well as his major contribution to the development of theology, Augustine wrote on topics such as time, free will, and ethics

  
By his writings, the surviving bulk of which exceeds that of any other ancient author, Augustine came to influence not only his contemporaries but also the West since his time. This Very Short Introduction traces the development of Augustine's thought, discussing his reaction to the thinkers before him, and themes such as freedom, creation, and the trinity.