Lucian's True History

Introduction by Charles Whibley · Illustrated by Aubrey Beardsley · Illustrated by Joseph Benwell Clark · Illustrated by William Strang · Translated by Francis Hickes

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"Lucian's True History" by Lucian of Samosata is a satirical novella written in the second century AD. The narrator begins by warning readers that everything in the story is a complete lie. What follows is an outrageous tale of travelers swept to the Moon, where they witness interplanetary warfare between celestial kings. They encounter a giant whale, seas of milk, islands of cheese, and meet legendary heroes and mythical creatures. This fantastical work mocks ancient authors who presented impossible tales as truth, earning recognition as the earliest known fiction featuring space travel and alien lifeforms.

Summary written by Project Gutenberg, by machine.