The Works of Lucian of Samosata — Volume 04

Lucian of Samosata wrote in the second century, but his voice sounds startlingly modern. Born in Syria to Greek parents, he became the ancient world's most vicious satirist, a writer who gleefully dismantled pomposity, hypocrisy, and false philosophy with wit that feels almost contemporary. This volume collects his sharpest works: the famous attack on slander that opens with the painter Apelles falsely accused and nearly executed, his contentious meditation on patriotism, and 'A True Story,' a wildly inventive narrative that arguably invented science fiction. Lucian believed philosophy should make people better and despised those who used it for self-promotion. His dialogue form allows him to pit absurd positions against each other, letting readers laugh their way to truth. For anyone tired of solemn ancient texts, Lucian offers pure mischief with an edge.