Paulinus of Nola: Life, Letters, and Poems

Berkeley, Calif.: University of California Press, 1999. xv, 326 pages: illustrations, maps; 24 cm; bibliographical references (pages 299-316) and indexes. Fine in fine jacket housed in archival mylar. Faintest signs of wear. in fine dust-jacket. Hardcover. ISBN: 0520217098

"Born to a provincial family of wealth, status, and privilege (ca. 353) in Roman Gaul, Meropius Pontius Paulinus entered upon the career of a Roman officeholder to which this birth virtually entitled him. It was after he had returned from this Italian service to his ancestral estates that he encountered Martin of Tours and embarked upon an earnest review of the world and his place in it, leading to his receiving Christian baptism. His subsequent withdrawal to Spain (ca. 389) culminated in his remarkable renunciation of the world and his dedication to an ascetic monasticism for which there were as yet very few avatars in the western Roman provinces. Not long after, he returned to Italy and settled at Nola where, sometime between 408 and 413, he was ordained bishop, a post he held until his death in 431. This is the first thorough study in any language of the fascinating and appealing mind that passed through this spiritual choreography."—Publisher. Contents: Claiming Paulinus -- The early years: Aquitaine and Italy -- From Otium Ruris to Contemptus mundi -- Renunciation and ordination -- Paulinus at Nola: 395-431 -- Salvation economics: the theory and practice of property renunciation -- The cult of Saint Felix -- Paulinus and Latin Christian culture -- The final years. // Christian poetry, Latin -- History and criticism. Christian saints -- Italy -- Nola -- Correspondence. Christian saints -- Italy -- Nola -- Biography. Poets, Latin -- Homes and haunts -- Italy -- Nola. Letter writing, Latin -- Italy -- History -- To 1500. Poets, Latin -- Correspondence. Poets, Latin -- Biography. Christianity and literature -- Rome. 11.51 early Christianity. Christian poetry, Latin. Christian saints. Christianity and literature. Intellectual life. Letter writing, Latin. Poets, Latin. Poets, Latin -- Homes and haunts. Fathers of the church, Latin. Christianisme et littérature. Paulinus, of Nola, Saint, approximately 353-431. Paulinus, of Nola, Saint, approximately 353-431 -- Correspondence. Paulinus, of Nola, Saint, approximately 353-431 Paulinus, of Nola, Saint, approximately 353-431. Paulinus, of Nola, Saint, approximately 353-431 -- Criticism and interpretation. Paulinus, Nolanus, ca. 353-431. Paulin de Nola, (0353-0431; saint) -- Critique et interprétation.Biographies. Criticism, interpretation, etc. History. Personal correspondence.