This book challenges the view that Augustine's account of himself in the Confessions is partly fictitious, even though drawing heavily on rhetorical prescriptions for developing a narrative. A close study of fifteen episodes (out of more than three dozen in books 1 through 9) shows how he treated the standard story elements of actor, event, time, and place. But two important differences can be seen between his stories and those in other biographical or autobiographical narratives. One is that Augustine presents himself as having a specific identity as teacher, philosopher, and bishop, while at the same time claiming to be an Everyman representative of all human beings. The second difference is that he introduces God into his story as a protagonist alongside himself. By labeling his account from beginning to end as a series of 'confessions' to God, he insists on God's involvement in every episode of his life.