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Selected Satires of Lucian
Lucian, born in Syria in the second century C.E., came to Greece at an early age and mastered its language and literature. He took up law, left it for public speaking, then turned to full-time writing, producing the wide range of subject matter and literary form which is represented in this collection.
A master of the vivid scene, Lucian used his pungent style to ridicule the tyrants, prophets, waning gods, and hypocrite philosophers of his own day and the centuries preceding him. His most typical genre is a parody of a Platonic dialogue, but he also excelled in straight narrative, as in the elaborate spoof "A True Story" and the old folk tale outrageously retold, "Lucius, the Ass." His skeptical mind and imaginative irony have influenced generations of artists and writers, and now in Professor Casson's new translations can be freshly enjoyed today.
A master of the vivid scene, Lucian used his pungent style to ridicule the tyrants, prophets, waning gods, and hypocrite philosophers of his own day and the centuries preceding him. His most typical genre is a parody of a Platonic dialogue, but he also excelled in straight narrative, as in the elaborate spoof "A True Story" and the old folk tale outrageously retold, "Lucius, the Ass." His skeptical mind and imaginative irony have influenced generations of artists and writers, and now in Professor Casson's new translations can be freshly enjoyed today.
398 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1968
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About the author
Lucian of Samosata
1,520 books183 followersLucian of Samosata was a Greek-educated Syrian rhetorician, and satirist who wrote in the Greek language. He is noted for his witty and scoffing nature.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
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August 24, 2024enjoyed this immensely and can’t wait to inflict it on my students. one of the rare situations where the glib and overly colloquial style of 60s translations feels totally appropriate
December 15, 2019
Lucian of Samosata is one of my absolute favorite classical authors. The renowned English writer Henry Fielding once called Lucian "almost... like the true father of humour" and I almost agree with that assessment. If not the "true father of humor," I think I would feel comfortable calling Lucian the "true father of satire." Lucian may have died in the late second century AD, but his works are never out of date. As long as there are people who believe in foolishness and other people who love to laugh at that foolishness, Lucian will remain perpetually relevant.
Lucian is the kind of author who is just genuinely enjoyable to read, even for ordinary people who are not classics scholars. Unlike so many other classical humorists, Lucian is only occasionally obscene or crude. Aristophanes might often rely upon fart jokes and sex to make his audiences laugh, but Lucian normally relies upon pure, distilled wit. As Casson notes in his introduction, Lucian is no great philosopher; you will find no exhaustive philosophical arguments from him. Nevertheless, as a satirist, he is virtually unrivalled. He may not be especially wise, but he is extraordinarily clever.
Lucian calls out malarkey whenever he sees it and he spares no one from his biting sarcasm. A perennial skeptic, Lucian routinely mocks popular superstitions and new religious movements (including Christianity), but he carries his skeptical inclinations even further; Lucian even dares to ridicule many traditional Greek beliefs about the gods. His Dialogues of the Gods (included in this volume), for instance, is a satire exposing the inherent absurdities of Greek mythology.
Since Lucian's work is so brilliant, it is unfortunate that so many modern English translations of Lucian's writings are truly terrible. A. M. Harmon's 1913 translation for the Loeb Classical Library is dense and archaic, barely readable. H. W. Fowler and F. G. Fowler's 1905 translation of all Lucian's works writings is a little better. Lionel Casson's translation, however, is the best of all the translations I have read. Casson's translation is written in engaging and thoroughly readable mid-twentieth-century English, rather than the ponderous and archaizing English of so many earlier translations.
One disappointment I had with this book is that Casson does not include all of Lucian's extant works and he actually leaves out a few of Lucian's most famous works. Notable omissions from this volume include classics such as The Lover of Lies, On the Syrian Goddess, and How to Write History. Nevertheless, Casson has managed to include most of Lucian's most iconic works.
My other disappointment is the fact that Casson's introduction and notes are a bit outdated. For instance, Casson treats much of what Lucian says in his writings as autobiographical, but modern scholars have come to seriously question the supposed autobiographical nature of works such as The Dream. Casson also does not talk much about how Lucian's identity as a Syrian who had adopted Greek culture and language may have influenced his writings; whereas this has become a major subject of study in recent years.
Overall, though, Selected Satires of Lucian is an excellent work and I highly recommend it to anyone who has an interest in ancient literature.
Lucian is the kind of author who is just genuinely enjoyable to read, even for ordinary people who are not classics scholars. Unlike so many other classical humorists, Lucian is only occasionally obscene or crude. Aristophanes might often rely upon fart jokes and sex to make his audiences laugh, but Lucian normally relies upon pure, distilled wit. As Casson notes in his introduction, Lucian is no great philosopher; you will find no exhaustive philosophical arguments from him. Nevertheless, as a satirist, he is virtually unrivalled. He may not be especially wise, but he is extraordinarily clever.
Lucian calls out malarkey whenever he sees it and he spares no one from his biting sarcasm. A perennial skeptic, Lucian routinely mocks popular superstitions and new religious movements (including Christianity), but he carries his skeptical inclinations even further; Lucian even dares to ridicule many traditional Greek beliefs about the gods. His Dialogues of the Gods (included in this volume), for instance, is a satire exposing the inherent absurdities of Greek mythology.
Since Lucian's work is so brilliant, it is unfortunate that so many modern English translations of Lucian's writings are truly terrible. A. M. Harmon's 1913 translation for the Loeb Classical Library is dense and archaic, barely readable. H. W. Fowler and F. G. Fowler's 1905 translation of all Lucian's works writings is a little better. Lionel Casson's translation, however, is the best of all the translations I have read. Casson's translation is written in engaging and thoroughly readable mid-twentieth-century English, rather than the ponderous and archaizing English of so many earlier translations.
One disappointment I had with this book is that Casson does not include all of Lucian's extant works and he actually leaves out a few of Lucian's most famous works. Notable omissions from this volume include classics such as The Lover of Lies, On the Syrian Goddess, and How to Write History. Nevertheless, Casson has managed to include most of Lucian's most iconic works.
My other disappointment is the fact that Casson's introduction and notes are a bit outdated. For instance, Casson treats much of what Lucian says in his writings as autobiographical, but modern scholars have come to seriously question the supposed autobiographical nature of works such as The Dream. Casson also does not talk much about how Lucian's identity as a Syrian who had adopted Greek culture and language may have influenced his writings; whereas this has become a major subject of study in recent years.
Overall, though, Selected Satires of Lucian is an excellent work and I highly recommend it to anyone who has an interest in ancient literature.
to-keep-reference
October 18, 2016Marx dijo célebremente que la historia se produce primero como tragedia y después como farsa; los antiguos griegos se despidieron de sus dioses recurriendo a las sátiras de Luciano, riéndose de ellos. Sin embargo, como muchos agudos comentaristas han señalado, algunas veces este orden puede invertirse: lo que empieza como farsa puede acabar en tragedia. A finales de la década de los veinte, por ejemplo, Hitler y su marginal partido eran universalmente ridiculizados como payasos y bufones.
Viviendo en el Final de los Tiempos Pág.263
Viviendo en el Final de los Tiempos Pág.263
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July 11, 2021When I read ancient comedies, I wonder if all the regular contributors to McSweeney's are classicists.
My favorite was Alexander the Quack Prophet. It puts all the recent QAnon quackery into perspective.
My favorite was Alexander the Quack Prophet. It puts all the recent QAnon quackery into perspective.
September 12, 2024
4 stars: really liked it.
Lucian mocks human failings of hubris and poor character. He valued reason, skepticism, and candor; he loathed the supernatural (gods, providence, oracles) and sham. He did not embrace philosophy (or religion, as they were intertwined in the ancient world) because he saw philosophers as hypocrites. Philosophies for Sale was an especially clever and entertaining indictment on philosophy, reducing philosophical systems to goods available to the highest bidder. Lucian skewered all the prevailing sects of the time: Stoics, Academics (Plato), Peripatetics (Aristotle), Epicureans, and Cynics.
But Lucian was no moralist. He offered no competing school of thought. Above all, Lucian was a storyteller. His innovative satiric dialogue and vivid narrative created a distinctive style that influenced dozens of famous writers who came after him (Erasmus, More, Rabelais, Shakespeare, Verne, Swift, Goethe, etc).
In Death of Peregrinus, it was very interesting to read Lucian’s contemporary, pagan view of Christians from the 2nd century AD. My key observations:
> To some extent, Christians and Jews were confused with each other
> Jesus and his crucifixion were presented as factual
> Christians were painted as naïve and gullible; Jesus was disparagingly called a “sophist” (though this could be Lucian’s slant against religion in general)
> Christians were known for their strong community and support for each other
Witty, clever, imaginative, and entertaining, though at times crude and bizarre, these selected satires were enjoyable to read.
Lucian mocks human failings of hubris and poor character. He valued reason, skepticism, and candor; he loathed the supernatural (gods, providence, oracles) and sham. He did not embrace philosophy (or religion, as they were intertwined in the ancient world) because he saw philosophers as hypocrites. Philosophies for Sale was an especially clever and entertaining indictment on philosophy, reducing philosophical systems to goods available to the highest bidder. Lucian skewered all the prevailing sects of the time: Stoics, Academics (Plato), Peripatetics (Aristotle), Epicureans, and Cynics.
But Lucian was no moralist. He offered no competing school of thought. Above all, Lucian was a storyteller. His innovative satiric dialogue and vivid narrative created a distinctive style that influenced dozens of famous writers who came after him (Erasmus, More, Rabelais, Shakespeare, Verne, Swift, Goethe, etc).
In Death of Peregrinus, it was very interesting to read Lucian’s contemporary, pagan view of Christians from the 2nd century AD. My key observations:
> To some extent, Christians and Jews were confused with each other
> Jesus and his crucifixion were presented as factual
> Christians were painted as naïve and gullible; Jesus was disparagingly called a “sophist” (though this could be Lucian’s slant against religion in general)
> Christians were known for their strong community and support for each other
Witty, clever, imaginative, and entertaining, though at times crude and bizarre, these selected satires were enjoyable to read.
July 16, 2021
Сатирите на Лукиан не са типичният пример за забавни произведения - повечето от тях представляват философски диалози, представени в много по-лек стил. Като по-забележителни се открояват диалозите "За паразита", "Харон" и писмата "Александър" и "Необразованият купувач на книги".
November 21, 2023
Wild, it's like baron munchausen.
June 15, 2024
Uitstelgedrag wordt mijn teloorgang.
February 28, 2012
Excellent selection and translation of a delightful ancient author. Lucian of Samosata (~125-180) was a lawyer and satirist in the ancient world. The writings selected here (and translated into modern English) are those which highlight both Lucian's sense of humor and his dedication to ridding the world of charaltans and philosophical hucksters. Included in this volume are two novellas: "A True Story" (a parody of the Odyssey) and "Lucius the Ass" (in which a man is turned into a donkey); a series of dialogues mocking the extremes of religion and philosophy; and two letters, "Alexander the False Prophet" (which exposes a man who had swindled a small town by claiming to speak for the gods) and "The Death of Peregrinus" (which exposes the hypocrisy of a man who killed himself in the name of philosophy).
Even better, here is finally an atheist (or at least an agnostic) who is worth picking up and skimming through. Really, the number of anti-religion-in-general writers I've come across who aren't just polemical ranters is so small that it's always refreshing to find one who is honest, thoughtful, and consistent in his beliefs. Lucian is all of these things, with a wicked sense of humor to boot.
Even better, here is finally an atheist (or at least an agnostic) who is worth picking up and skimming through. Really, the number of anti-religion-in-general writers I've come across who aren't just polemical ranters is so small that it's always refreshing to find one who is honest, thoughtful, and consistent in his beliefs. Lucian is all of these things, with a wicked sense of humor to boot.
December 22, 2014
Written in the mid-100's AD this book of Satires is a nice read. I love how he prefaces "A True Story" saying 'everything I'm about to tell you is a lie' and then spins a tale of weird creatures and strange lands influencing Gulliver's Travels or Hieronymus Bosch centuries later.
His most famous story "Lucius, The Ass" must have been a predecessor to Kafka's "Metamorphosis".
Many of the other satires I skimmed as Lucian is poking fun at the Roman gods which is so before-last-millennium. But "Alaxander the Quack Prophet" is a classic character assassination hit job on a prophet in his time who Lucius accuses of being a con-man. It struck me as a proto-Elmer Gantry take down of modern day televangelists or gurus.
All in all, an easy and entertaining read for the 2nd century AD from one of the foremost skeptics and critics of the ancient world, skewering all that is superstitious and false.
His most famous story "Lucius, The Ass" must have been a predecessor to Kafka's "Metamorphosis".
Many of the other satires I skimmed as Lucian is poking fun at the Roman gods which is so before-last-millennium. But "Alaxander the Quack Prophet" is a classic character assassination hit job on a prophet in his time who Lucius accuses of being a con-man. It struck me as a proto-Elmer Gantry take down of modern day televangelists or gurus.
All in all, an easy and entertaining read for the 2nd century AD from one of the foremost skeptics and critics of the ancient world, skewering all that is superstitious and false.
December 16, 2008
Fantastic! This book contains a great selection of Lucian's varied writings. The best ones are the original Golden Ass and the Dialogues of the Dead. Everything in here is damned hilarious. The translation itself is easy to read, but there were a few oddities, such as Greek money translated as American dollars.
February 18, 2016
Kind of an uneven collection but still nice variety of writing. I think "Dialogues of the Dead", "Alexander the False Prophet" and "The Death of Peregrinus" standout. Might wanna brush up on Homer's "Iliad" and "Odyssey" before tackling this one in that there are many (MANY!) references to them throughout.
June 5, 2007
Worth it for the Little Nemo in Slumberland-esque "True Hisory."
Read
April 4, 2013Can't speak to the quality of translation, but I enjoyed it well enough. More research for my Ferryman novel.
April 12, 2011
Unfinished college thesis on this man... The original stand-up comic and sketch writer using Greek gods.
unfinished
May 13, 2014I keep trying to read these ancient Roman works and discovering that I do not really enjoy them, at all.
Read
November 21, 2009None
April 21, 2010
"I'll shoot you down with my Indemonstrable Syllogism."
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews