"Saint Ambrose of Milan is one of the towering figures of late antiquity. A high official in the western Roman government, Ambrose was conscripted by the people of Milan to serve as their bishop even before he was baptized a Christian. He would go on to become one of the most important fathers of the Western church : a fierce opponent of heretics, admonisher of emperors, worker of miracles, and the spiritual father of other great saints. This ancient biography of Ambrose was written by one of the deacons who served under him : Paulinus of Milan. Paulinus was encouraged in this effort by none other than Saint Augustine of Hippo, Ambrose's most famous disciple. Written in a style similar to other works of hagiography from the same time, Paulinus draws an enduring portrait of Saint Ambrose, placing him in the religious and political context of his times. The life of Saint Ambrose features numerous first-hand accounts of events which were witnessed by Paulinus himself or related to him by those who were close to Ambrose. It describes Ambrose's interactions with key figures whose lives intersected his own including emperors, saints, bishops, usurpers, generals and numerous ordinary people who are known to history only through this work. As a primary historical source, the Life of Saint Ambrose has helped to cement its subject as one of the great holy men of the early Church." --Back cover