Customer Reviews

Lucian, III (Loeb Classical Library No. 130)

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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.