Chattering courtesans and other sardonic sketches / Lucian ; translated with an introduction and notes by Keith Sidwell.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Lucian, of Samosata

Standardized Title:

Works. Selections (Chattering courtesans and other sardonic sketches). English

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Lucian, of Samosata--Translations into English.

Lucian.

Lucian, of Samosata.

Satire, Greek--Translations into English.

Satire, Greek.

Physical Description:

528 pages : map ; 20 cm

Place of Publication:

London, England : Penguin Books, 2004.

Summary:

A Greek-educated Syrian, Lucian wrote witty pieces that demonstrate a profound skepticism for religion and philosophy and encourage honest living and good sense. "Chattering Courtesans" is a series of short dialogues in which the amusing gossip of "kept women" gives rise to a discussion of more serious subjects such as love, sex, and marriage. Other comic dialogues in this volume show Lucian making fun of fanaticism and mocking pretension, hypocrisy, and the vanity of human wealth and power, while in "Diatribes" he targets a range of subjects, from scandal and money to death, in order to demonstrate the follies of contemporary life. Also included here is Lucian's most famous work, "True Histories," which inspired imaginary voyages, from More's "Utopia" to Swift's "Gulliver's Travels."

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [xxviii]-xxix) and indexes.

ISBN:

0140447024

OCLC:

56208500