Lucian

A translation of fourteen of Lucian''s dialogues offering a cross-section of his styles and satirical targets from serious polemic (Alexander Peregrinus) to lighter squibs and character-portrayals (Dialogues of the Courtesans). Also included are How to Write History and his most famous piece A True History a parody of the popular vogue for fabulous traveller''s tales. Each piece has a summary introduction and notes to clarify obscure allusions in the text. The Introduction examines in some detail Lucian''s importance as a dominant Atticizer in the period of the Second Sophistic as well as his extraordinarily widespread influence on later European literature.