Lucian, III (Loeb Classical Library No. 130) [Hardcover]

Lucian (Author), A. M. Harmon (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1921 | ISBN-10: 0674991443 | ISBN-13: 978-0674991446

Lucian (ca. 120–190 CE), the satirist from Samosata on the Euphrates, started as an apprentice sculptor, turned to rhetoric and visited Italy and Gaul as a successful travelling lecturer, before settling in Athens and developing his original brand of satire. Late in life he fell on hard times and accepted an official post in Egypt.

Although notable for the Attic purity and elegance of his Greek and his literary versatility, Lucian is chiefly famed for the lively, cynical wit of the humorous dialogues in which he satirises human folly, superstition and hypocrisy. His aim was to amuse rather than to instruct. Among his best works are A True Story (the tallest of tall stories about a voyage to the moon), Dialogues of the Gods (a 'reductio ad absurdum' of traditional mythology), Dialogues of the Dead (on the vanity of human wishes), Philosophies for Sale (great philosophers of the past are auctioned off as slaves), The Fisherman (the degeneracy of modern philosophers), The Carousal or Symposium (philosophers misbehave at a party), Timon (the problems of being rich), Twice Accused (Lucian's defence of his literary career) and (if by Lucian) The Ass (the amusing adventures of a man who is turned into an ass).

The Loeb Classical Library edition of Lucian is in eight volumes.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 496 pages
• Publisher: Loeb Classical Library (January 1, 1921)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0674991443
• ISBN-13: 978-0674991446
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 4.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,233,320 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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20 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Of shoes and ships and ceiling wax..., June 30, 2000

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courtney J angermeier - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lucian, III (Loeb Classical Library No. 130) (Hardcover)

First of all, don't you just love these Loeb editions. In my opinion, they are the most aesthetically appealing collection of books ever. Perfect size , nice shade of green, half in Greek so they make you look real smart-everything you could ever ask for in the book-as-object department. So, that said, on to Lucian. Ever read Gulliver's Travels (I know what you're thinking: "She said she was gonna talk about Lucian!" I am , I am, I promise) and wondered "Where in bloody blazes did he come up with all this philisophically abundant, politically biting, incredible nonsense?" Well friends, look no further, Lucian is the deposed king of philisophically abundant, politically biting, incredible nonsense. A True Story I and II is possibly the most delightfully bizarre piece of literature that has ever passed before these eyes, and I have a decided propensity for that sort of thing. Lucian, however, is not limited to that realm. Every now and then he saunters away from the race of men using their generative organs as mainmasts for sailing excursions to give us his pity commentary on subjects as diverse as the nature of slander and octegenarians, but wherever he goes, it's a brilliant trip. Though the parallel between Lucian and Swift definitely exists I don't want to lead anyone astry by pushing it too much. Swift's main impetus was political commentary, wheras Lucian is a rhetoritician. He plays with a lighter touch, so to speak. You can almost see the wry smile emerging cheshire-like from the page. Though Amazon lists Lucian as one volume, beware, there are eight. Don't panic though, the first one is such a treat that you can either make a meal of it alone or flit gaily on to the feast of the other seven. Bon Apetite.