In this highly praised new translation of Boethius's The Consolation of Philosophy, David R. Slavitt presents a graceful, accessible, and modern version for both longtime admirers of one of the great masterpieces of philosophical literature and those encountering it for the first time. Slavitt preserves the distinction between the alternating verse and prose sections in the Latin original, allowing us to appreciate the Menippian parallels between the discourses of literary and logical inquiry. His prose translations are lively and colloquial, conveying the argumentative, occasionally bantering tone of the original, while his verse translations restore the beauty and power of Boethius's poetry. The result is a major contribution to the art of translation.

Those less familiar with Consolation may remember it was written under a death sentence. Boethius (c. 480-524), an Imperial official under Theodoric, Ostrogoth ruler of Rome, found himself, in a time of political paranoia, denounced, arrested, and then executed two years later without a trial. Composed while its author was imprisoned, cut off from family and friends, it remains one of Western literature's most eloquent meditations on the transitory nature of earthly belongings, and the superiority of things of the mind. In an artful combination of verse and prose, Slavitt captures the energy and passion of the original. And in an introduction intended for the general reader, Seth Lerer places Boethius's life and achievement in context.

This is a sensitive and readable translation, whose poetic merits place it beyond other translations of Boethius's great text. -- Henry Taylor A remarkable translation of one of the great masterpieces of philosophical literature. -- Gail Holst-Warhaft, Cornell University

About the Author
David R. Slavitt is a poet and the translator of more than ninety works of fiction, poetry, and drama. Seth Lerer is Dean of Arts and Humanities and Distinguished Professor of Literature at the University of California, San Diego.

Reviews
This is a sensitive and readable translation, whose poetic merits place it beyond other translations of Boethius's great text. -- Henry Taylor
A remarkable translation of one of the great masterpieces of philosophical literature. -- Gail Holst-Warhaft, Cornell University
A springboard for personal reflection and a source of literate pleasure. -- Steven Chabot * Library Journal *
It's a remarkable book (though a short one), and its latest edition, rendered into fluid, compellingly immediate English by veteran translator David R. Slavitt, is very markedly the best one it's ever had...Slavitt presents the reader with Boethius brought to vibrant, vigorous life, to a degree that makes all previous English versions seem pedantic and irrelevant. Harvard University Press has crafted a physically beautiful volume, sturdy and small enough to fit in your pocket--an extremely fitting format for a book that's meant to be a comfort against life's ills. Reading this edition, even readers who've never encountered Boethius before will see at once why his book has meant so much to so many people for the last 1,500 years. -- Steve Donoghue * openlettersmonthly.com *
This is a beautifully made little book that I have taken with me on a number of trips, partly just for the pleasure of holding it. At any time I would be glad to have it. -- John Wilson * Books and Culture *



Book Information
ISBN 9780674048355
Author Boethius
Format Paperback
Page Count 208
Imprint Harvard University Press
Publisher Harvard University Press