Andrew Cain is Associate Professor of Classics at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

• Introduction 1: The Text Deconstructing the 'Lost Primitive Greek HM' theory Restoring the Primacy of G Syriac Translations of the HM Status of the Greek Text 2: Provenance, Date, and Authorship Provenance Date of Composition Candidates for Authorship Intentional Anonymity 3: Genre Itineraria Collective Biography Encomium Acta Martyrum Apophthegmata Partum Sui Generis 4: Literary Influences and Intertexts Classical Greek Literature The Bible The Life of Antony 5: Style Figures of Sound Figures of Repetition Figures of Redundancy Figures of Parallelism Figures of Imagery Other Figures of Rhetoric Prose Rhythm Conclusion 7: The New Prophets and Apostles Direct typology (Old Testament) Indirect typology (Old Testament) Indirect typology (New Testament) Indirect typology (Inter-Testamental) The HM as postbiblical Scripture 8: Characterization and the Unholy Other Pagans Syrian ascetics Manichaean heretics Conclusion 9: Through Them the World is Sustained Paradise regained Conservators of humanity Ministers of salvation 10: A Manual for Monastic Living Intended audience The monks as exemplars and teachers The monastic regimen Conclusion 11: Piety and Propaganda Evagrius in the HM Active vs. contemplative monasticism Pure prayer Apatheia Demons and impure thoughts Evagrius and his teachings in Rufinus Latin HM Conclusion Bibliography

Cain has written a study of this which will prove invaluable to all those interested in late antique monasticism, Egypt and hagiography, with chapters on the text, the authorship, the genre, the literary influences and the style before moving on to look more directly at what the work describes... Cain's book though is a wonderfully learned and informative study of this most engaging of ancient texts.