| Lucian, Volume V: The Passing of Peregrinus. the Runaways. Toxaris or Friendship. the Dance. Lexiphanes. the Eunuch. Astrology. the Mist Contributor(s): Lucian (Author), Harmon, A. M. (Translator) |
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ISBN: 0674993330 ISBN-13: 9780674993334 Publisher: Harvard University Press OUR PRICE: $29.70 Product Type: Hardcover Language: Greek, Ancient (to 1453) Published: January 1936 Annotation: Lucian (ca. 120- 190 AD), 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. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Poetry | Ancient & Classical |
| Dewey: 884.01 |
| Series: Loeb Classical Library |
| Physical Information: 0.92" H x 4.46" W x 6.64" (0.67 lbs) 544 pages |
| Themes: - Chronological Period - Ancient (To 499 A.D.) |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: 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. |
Contributor Bio(s): Harmon, A. M.: - Austin Morris Harmon (1878-1950) was Professor of Classics at Yale University. |