The Library
1774 works catalogued century by century, from the literature the Bible was written among to the present — each with a note on what it is, why it lasted, and where to read it.
301–400
1 work
c. 390
Greek
Evagrius Ponticus · 345–399
A hundred short chapters analysing the eight thoughts that assail a monk — gluttony, lust, avarice, sadness, anger, listlessness, vainglory, pride — and the discipline that answers each.
401–500
1 work
c. 400–427
Latin
De Trinitate
Augustine of Hippo · 354–430
Fifteen books written over a quarter of a century, arguing the doctrine from scripture and then searching the human mind — memory, understanding, will — for a created trace of the Trinity.
1001–1100
1 work
c. 1059–1078
Greek
Michael Psellos · 1018–c. 1078
A history of fourteen emperors by a courtier who served most of them, written as psychological portraiture and unusually candid about his own manoeuvring.
1101–1200
2 works
c. 1115
Latin
De Vita Sua
Guibert of Nogent · c. 1055–c. 1124
An abbot's account of his mother, his own sexual temptations and bad dreams, a murdered bishop, and a communal revolt at Laon, written in imitation of Augustine.
1158–1163
Latin
Liber Vitae Meritorum
Hildegard of Bingen · 1098–1179
Thirty-five vices appear and speak in their own defence, each answered by the corresponding virtue, followed by a description of the punishments awaiting each.
1201–1300
1 work
c. 1208–1215
Latin
Robert of Flamborough · d. c. 1224
A confessor's manual in dialogue form, showing how to question a penitent gently, in what order, and how to avoid suggesting sins they had not thought of.
1601–1700
1 work
1656
English
John Owen · 1616–1683
An analysis of indwelling sin and its remedies, containing the instruction that a believer must be killing sin or it will be killing him.
7 of 1774 works