An eminent public figure under the Gothic emperor Theodoric Boethius was alsoan exceptional Greek scholar and it was to the Greek philosophers that heturned whe... » 

An eminent public figure under the Gothic emperor Theodoric Boethius was alsoan exceptional Greek scholar and it was to the Greek philosophers that heturned when he fell from favor and was imprisoned in Pavia. Written in theperiod leading up to his brutal execution The Consolation of Philosophy is adialogue of alternating prose and verse between the ailing prisoner and hisnurse Philosophy whose instruction on the nature of fortune and happinessgood and evil fate and free will restore his health and bring him toenlightenment.The clarity of Boethiuss thought and his breadth of vision made this workhugely popular throughout medieval Europe and his ideas suffused the thoughtof Chaucer and Dante. This translation makes it accessible to the modern readerwhile losing nothing of Boethiuss poetic artistry and philosophicalbrilliance. «