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The church historian and Benedictine monk Cuthbert Butler (1858 1934) was known for his expertise on the monastic life and wrote several books on the subject, including Benedictine Monachism (1919) and Western Mysticism (1922). Previously he had produced this two-volume edition of Palladius of Galatia's Lausiac History. Written in the early fifth century, it records the lives of the Egyptian 'Desert Fathers' and is an important source for early monasticism. In Volume 1 (1898), Butler begins with a general introduction to Palladius' work, followed by a critical survey of the various versions of Palladius' text, which survives in Greek, Latin, Syriac, Armenian and Coptic. The volume includes a contribution by Armitage Robinson, later Dean of Westminster, on the Armenian version. The later part of this volume turns to an exploration of Palladius' theology, other related sources for the history of Egyptian monasticism, and a historical discussion of early monasticism."

The church historian and Benedictine monk Cuthbert Butler (1858 1934) was known for his expertise on the monastic life and wrote several books on the subject, including Benedictine Monachism (1919) and Western Mysticism (1922). Previously he had produced this two-volume edition of Palladius of Galatia's Lausiac History. Written in the early fifth century, it records the lives of the Egyptian 'Desert Fathers' and is an important source for early monasticism. Volume 2 (1904) contains Butler's edition of the Greek text, supported by an extensive critical apparatus. Butler's substantial introduction first surveys the various Greek manuscripts and earlier editions of the text, before outlining the method he adopted in editing the work. His text is supported by detailed critical and historical notes. The volume also includes a reassessment of the chronology of Palladius' life and helpful supporting material in the form of a map and chronological table."

Palladius wrote in the 5th century AD. His is the latest of Roman agricultural texts and perhaps for that reason was the treatise most widely distributed in the medieval world, being translated into Italian, Catalan and Middle English, among other languages. Later, Palladius fell into neglect as the Renaissance preferred more classical authors (Cato, Varro, Columella) and although he was translated into English about 200 years ago (not entirely satisfactorily) his achievements are little known. Palladius is therefore an important guide to agricultural practice at the end of the Empire, and his significance is redoubled because of the sources he relied upon, including Gargilius Martialis, a major text which has not come down to us. Palladius wrote from personal experience of several parts of the Empire; his style is concise and his methods less elaborate than, for instance, Columella's. John Fitch's translation is based on the Rodgers edition of the Latin. This means it includes Book 14, on veterinary medicine, which was not discovered until the 20th century. He provides an introduction placing the work in context; some explicatory drawings, for instance of a reaping machine described by Palladius, and of a wine-pressing room; footnotes elucidating the text itself; and a full index. As the authoritative Latin edition is still available, there is no parallel Latin text in this version.John G. Fitch is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Greek and Roman Studies, the University of Victoria, British Columbia. His research and publications have been much concerned with the work of Seneca, however his interest in Palladius was stimulated by his own life as a small farmer (sheep and fruit trees) on the island of Victoria in Canada.

2012 Reprint of Original 1934 Edition. Exact facsimile of the original edition, not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. This is a one-volume edition of the work published in 1907 in two volumes under the title "The Paradise, or Garden of the Holy Fathers...." The work comprises "The Life of St. Anthony" attributed to Athanasius, "The Paradise" written by Palladius, "The Rule of Pachomius" and "The History of the Monks" by Jerome. The work has long been an important source for the knowledge of Egyptian monasticism. It is a history of the anchorites, recluses, monks, coenobites and ascetic fathers of the deserts of Egypt, between A.D. 250 and A.D. 400.