Synopses & Reviews
"... welcome and timely. It is written in crisp, idiomatic, conversational English, not hobbled by slavish imitation of Lucian's Greek syntax."
Synopsis
..". welcome and timely. It is written in crisp, idiomatic, conversational English, not hobbled by slavish imitation of Lucian's Greek syntax."--The Key Reporter
Though Lucian's (A.D. c. 115-200) tendency to debunk everything might well have made him depressing reading, his lighthearted fantasy and wit have always had the opposite effect. His contribution to European literature may be seen in his influence on Rabelais, Erasmus, More, Swift, Voltaire, and Fielding. These sketches present him primarly as a humorous writer, making Lucian's special charm accessible to an age which largely shares his spirit.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Talks
The Dream
Zeuxis
Sketches
Conversations in Low Society
Mother Knows Best
The Language of True Love
The Results of Shooting a Line
Conversations in High Society
The New Sleeping Partner
Zeus is Indisposed
The Reluctant Parent
A Beauty Competition
Conversations in the Underworld
No Baggage Allowance
Menippus Gets Away With It
A Slight Change of Sex
How To Enjoy Life After Seventy
Charon Sees Life
Menippus Goes to Hell
Icaromenippus
An Interview with Hesiod
Some Awkward Questions for Zeus
Philosophies Going Cheap
Fishing for Phonies
The Pathological Liar
Stories
Alexander
The True History
Notes
Glossary