The Life and Conduct of St. Anthony the Great is the principal ascetic work of St. Athanasius the Great. It was likely written in 357, a year after the death of St. Anthony, in response to a request from Western monks who wished to learn more about Anthony, the "teacher of the desert." The form and content of the work, as well as Anthony's reputation, which had already reached Rome, Spain, France, and elsewhere, contributed to the introduction and wider spread of Monasticism in the West. St. Athanasius gracefully and vividly presents details about Anthony's birth and childhood, his distribution of wealth to the poor, his initial spiritual exercises, his retreat to the desert, his temptations, the founding of monasteries, and the miraculous interventions of the Saint. After presenting an extensive speech he gave to monks (on various spiritual topics), he discusses the ascetic life of the desert, his support for persecuted Christians, his character, includes discussions with pagan philosophers, correspondence with the emperor, various visions, etc., and details his blessed end. The Life of St. Anthony has been and continues to be an attractive and instructive read. Therefore, it is available in translation in many modern European languages. [Excerpt from the text on the back cover of the edition]