by C. D. N. Costa (Editor)
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 traveler'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.
Author Biography
C. D. N. Costa is Emeritus Professor of Classics, University of Birmingham.