The Greek satirist Lucian was a brilliantly entertaining writer who invented the comic dialogue as a vehicle for satiric comment. His influence was immense, not only on the Greek world, but on
later European writers such as Rabelais and Swift. His dialogues puncture the pretensions of pompous philosophers and describe the daily lives of Greek courtesans; they are peopled by
politicians, historians, and ordinary citizens, as well as by gods and mythic figures.
This lively new translation is both accurately idiomatic and as entertaining as the original. It provides a cross section of Lucian’s styles and satirical targets, from serious polemic to
lighter squibs and character portrayals, and includesHow to Write History and his most famous piece, A TrueHistory, a fabulous take of space travel and a monstrous
whale which prefigures the fantasies of Jules Verne. The introduction highlights Lucian’s importance both in his own and later times.
About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World’s Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable
volume reflects Oxford’s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous
notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.