Selected Dialogues

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.