Church Fathers - good books?

[brian]

The Early Church Fathers is one area I really ought to read up more about. The development of the Early Chruch is one that fascinates me, and the Early Church Fathers are obviously key to that process.

In which case, what good commentaries and books are recommended for covering the topic?

I'm preferring a distinctly historical approach - ie, one that shows the real warts involved, rather than seeks to gloss over serious issues for the sake of Christian Harmony.

If you;d like an example of what I mean by that then think in terms of Eusebius of Caeserea, and the claimed misrepresentations in his Ecclesiastical History.

I want to read criticisms of figures in the Early Chruch in terms of their historical reliability - and also details of what they actually wrote about (for example, I saw an interesting reference to Papias apparently commenting on the head of Judas Iscariot swelling up to the size of a carriage track).

Any suggestions from anyone?

[Paul3c]

The Early Church. From the beginnings to 461 -- Prof. W.H.C. Frend (there are other books by the same author on the early Church).

A New Eusibius -- edited by Stephenson & Frend

I heard Professor Frend speak once, and, in my opinion, he is one of the most authorative figures on the Early Church, although not the easiest of people to listen to -- he thinks everyone else is a professor I think.

[Polycarp]

A nice collection of original sources is at this site.

Two resources for you: Oblio over on the Pizza Parlor is a scholarly active convert to the Orthodox Church in America, and regularly posts apposite quotations from relevant Patristic sources. Lsura on SDMB is a librarian who was recently charged with putting together a collection of Catholic apologetics, and probably has a good resource collection as a result.

[Dave the Web]

I will enjoy these recommendations as well.

[brian]

Yes, thank you for the recommendations.

Sorry about that - I was a bit slow there.