The Christian philosopher Boethius wrote his Consolation of Philosophy during his imprisonment at the hands of Ostrogothic King Theodoric the Great in the year 524. Relihan (classics, Wheaton College) argues that, at least in modern times, the Consolation has largely been misread and misunderstood by commentators that fail to recognize its irony. More specifically, he contends that the Consolation is a Menippean satire, which explains its failure in achieving its surface goals, and that the true intention of the work is to temper the arguments of philosophy with Christian sentiments, expressed in biblical allusions at crucial junctures, with liturgical language, and with an emotional and devotional stance. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)