The Works of Lucian of Samosata

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Gutenberg ID

—

Title

The Works of Lucian of Samosata

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

A satirical collection of dialogues and essays by Lucian of Samosata, translated by H. W. Fowler and Francis George Fowler. This volume captures the wit of a Greek-speaking rhetorician who abandoned legalistic speech for philosophical inquiry, offering sharp critiques of pedants, charlatans, and the absurdities of Roman and Greek society through imaginative tales and biting irony.

Summary up to 500 words

The Works of Lucian of Samosata, translated by H. W. Fowler and Francis George Fowler, presents a diverse collection of satirical dialogues, essays, and autobiographical sketches that explore the human condition through a cynical yet observant lens. Born in Syria and trained as a rhetorician, Lucian initially sought fame through the empty victories of legal speech but eventually rejected this path for the truth-seeking methods of philosophy, only to find philosophy itself disappointing. The collection features vivid portraits of contemporary figures, such as a pantomime actor who loses his mind while playing Ajax, and includes autobiographical elements like a vision choosing him for rhetoric over statuary. Through works like The True History, Lucian invents fantastical voyages to the moon and the underworld to mock credulous audiences and pseudoscientific claims. Other pieces, such as The Scythian and The Cock, utilize allegory to critique social norms, while Dialogues of the Gods and Dialogues of the Dead offer humorous insights into divine and mortal affairs. The text is characterized by its erudite footnotes, which explain classical allusions and linguistic puzzles, enhancing the reader's understanding of the cultural context. Lucian's transition from a successful public speaker to a writer of dialogues marks a shift from seeking fame to seeking truth, a journey that continues to resonate with readers interested in ancient satire, philosophy, and the enduring nature of human folly. The volume includes a preface and introduction that provide biographical context, detailing Lucian's life from his apprenticeship as a sculptor to his travels in Ionia, Greece, Italy, and Gaul. It highlights his evolution from a lawyer-like rhetorician to a philosopher and finally to a satirist, noting his abandonment of rhetoric around 160 A.D. and his settlement in Athens. The works cover a wide range of topics, from the value of physical training to the nature of friendship, and from the dangers of pedantry to the absurdity of oracles and divination. The collection serves as both a literary critique of the sophists and a philosophical inquiry into the limits of human knowledge and the folly of those who claim to possess it.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Classics
• Fiction
• Satire