Lucian: One of Us...

I note that there is a complete translation (well, not entirely complete -- see the Preface of vol. 1) of the works of Lucian now available via Google Books--the four volumes by H. W. Fowler and F. G. Fowler [links from here].  The review from the New York Times emphasizes Lucian's modernity:

About the most modern of the Greek writers was Lucian of Samosata--not the saint, but the satirist.  He ought really to have written in English; as it is, he endures translation very easily.  The sea-change from Greek to English does not affect him, 'tis his Attic salt that keeps him as sweet as when the first edition of his works came out, seventeen centuries or so ago.
...
Swift is not the only one to be influenced by the Greek author:  within a week a newspaper of this city printed an editorial in dialogue suggested--possibly quite without the writer's knowledge--by Lucian's dialogues...

Comments

[Jerry Kelly]

I'm a humble small press publisher in the hinterland of central Ohio, and have just published a fine translation of Valerius Flaccus' Argonautica -- 1st century AD Latin version of earlier Greek epic, now in lively English verse. The translation is from Michael Barich of the Kenyon College Classics department, with illustrations by his student, Thomas Chappell Lewis (including a vivid cover illustration crafted on Post-It Notes). The little-known Latin Argonautica has keen Roman touches that heighten the sense of adventure and erotic passion of the Greek, and Professor Barich does a fine job in creating his accurate and compelling version in English verse. Take a look at http://xoxoxpress.com/titles.php?g=poetry -- and thanks!