Jerome of Stridon: His Life, Writings and Legacy

The papers in this collection on the endlessly fascinating Saint Jerome (c.346-420) were first presented at a 2006 conference held at Cardiff University, Wales. Jerome is considered one of the Church Fathers and he wrote hundreds of letters, commentaries and, sometimes, diatribes. Cain (University of Colorado, Boulder) and Lossl (Cardiff University) have arranged the articles in three sections. The first two, his life and writings, blend together as Jerome revealed himself in all his work, including biblical exegesis. The third, on his legacy, is not as often considered. This last section looks at the way Jerome's writings were used selectively over the centuries, ending with Martin Luther. The articles demonstrate how complex and contradictory Jerome could be. Several reevaluate much-studied topics such as Jerome's relation to women and his understanding of Hebrew. Others consider lesser known sides of Jerome: letters he wrote from Rome, early translations from Greek, his feeling for the last-minute conversion of the good thief on Golgotha. Jerome's determination to be the authority on orthodoxy is dealt with in his work against Pelagius. Each article contains nuances that cause the reader to rethink Jerome. They will be of interest to historians and theologians. Four of the articles are in French and the remainder in English, Annotation c2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Andrew Cain is Assistant Professor of Classics, University of Colorado, USA. Josef LA?ssl is Reader in Patristics and Late Antiquity, and Director, Centre for Late Antique Religion and Culture, School of Religious and Theological Studies, Cardiff University, UK.