Disciplining Christians Correction and Community in Augustine's Letters

Ebbeler has written a bold and original monograph, full of fresh insights. It is warmly recommended to all those who are interested in Augustine and the literary culture of Late Antiquity."--Winrich Lohr, Bryn Mawr Classical Review
"Disciplining Christians is an interesting and persuasive study of St. Augustine as a letter-writer, in particular of his controversial insistence on debating with and disciplining his correspondents. It offers many useful observations about epistolary conventions in antiquity and about Augustine's relationships with some of the key figures of his age."--Scott Bradbury, Smith College
"Against a subtly drawn background of late antique epistolary mores, Jennifer Ebbeler spotlights Augustine's subversive (though doomed) attempt to transform the 'friendly letter' into a novel medium of mutual correction. By doing so, Ebbeler deftly exposes yet another social fault line that traces Augustine's unique vision of a truly Christian society."-Dennis Trout, University of Missouri