Matthew D. Macleod – författare

Lucian lived in the second century AD and though his mother tongue was probably Aramaic he was famous for his witty satire and polished Greek. The aim of this selection is to produce a representative coverage of some of Lucians best work, particularly those pieces not available in recent editions or translations. Five of the nine works offered are examples of the comic, satiric dialogue as that was Lucians forte, but also included to illustrate the authors versatility are an autobiography, a satirical discourse, a description of a painting and a major work of literary criticism. Greek text with facing-page treanslation, introduction and commentary

Xenophon's philosophical works have long lived under the shadow of those of his brilliant and contemporary fellow student of Socrates, Plato. They both wrote an Apology and a Symposium , and though few would deny that Plato was the more profound and original philosopher, Xenophon's contribution has been unjustly ignored. His writings are of wider scope than Plato's, and encompass history and technical treatises as well as philosophy. They are particularly distinguished by their simplicity of style and approachability. The two works included here both concern the last days of Socrates and are a vivid portrait of the life and thought of the great man.