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The Consolation of Philosophy

by Boethius · 525

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Boethius was an eminent public figure under the Gothic emperor Theodoric, and an exceptional Greek scholar. When he became involved in a conspiracy and was imprisoned in Pavia, it was to the Greek philosophers that he turned. THE CONSOLATION was written in the period leading up to his brutal execution. It is a dialogue of alternating prose and verse between the ailing prisoner and his 'nurse' Philosophy. Her instruction on the nature of fortune and happiness, good and evil, fate and free will, restore his health and bring him to enlightenment. THE CONSOLATION was extremely popular throughout medieval Europe and his ideas were influential on the thought of Chaucer and Dante.

Subject
philosophyhistorypolitics
Genre
ancient Romeancient worldhistorical fictionmedieval
Themes
religionChristianphilosophyspiritualitymorality
Setting
medievalancient historyMiddle Agesancient Romeantiquity
Audience
adult
Length
short · 192 pages
Form
poetry

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