A Bounty of Books

The Confessions of X by Suzanne Wolfe is a fictionalized account of the woman St. Augustine of Hippo was in a relationship with for many years prior to his conversion. She is the mother of his son Adeodatus, and while she is referred to in Augustine's Confessions, she is never named.

Not much is known about this woman, though she played an important part in Augustine's life and eventual conversion. In Wolfe's version, she is the daughter of a poor tradesman who is left in the care of an emotionally distant aunt and uncle. It is her status as a non-Roman citizen of the lower class that prevents a formal marriage between her and Augustine, not a lack of love or devotion. They live as man and wife for many years before his ambition creates a crisis point for them. Without giving anything away, the story continues to follow X's life until the moment of Augustine's death.

I was intrigued by learning more about the life of this unnamed woman. While Wolfe admits she took some dramatic license (which she points out and corrects in a note at the end), I really appreciate her creating a believable and engaging story within the framework of the few known facts. The Confessions of X starts somewhat slowly, and includes much more description than dialogue, of which I am normally not a fan. However, after the first few chapters, I was invested in X and what happened to her, and the story flowed effortlessly. It was entertaining and easy to read. Historical fiction can sometimes be spoiled because the ending is known. This was not at all the case with this book. I was connected to the characters and felt the events with the surprise and dismay they did.

Overall, I would recommend The Confessions of X by Suzanne Wolfe to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, a bit of romance, the plight of women in the ancient world, or the life of St. Augustine.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookLook book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255