..". welcome and timely. It is written in crisp, idiomatic, conversational English, not hobbled by slavish imitation of Lucian's Greek syntax."A -- The Key Reporter Though Lucian's (A.D. c. 115--200) tendency to debunk everything might well have made him depressing reading, his lighthearted fantasy and wit have always had the opposite effect. His contribution to European literature may be seen in his influence on Rabelais, Erasmus, More, Swift, Voltaire, and Fielding. These sketches present him primarly as a humorous writer, making Lucian's special charm accessible to an age which largely shares his spirit.