Criticism and Imagination: Lucian of Samosata and his a True Story

Тhis article focuses on three main problems. Firstly, the connection between the life and work of Lucian of Samosata, which exists implicitly in his fantastic short story “A True Story.” Secondly, the complete clarification of the specific genre of the story in relation to the characteristics of the audience of the work. Thirdly, the specific nature of Lucian as the author of the story, i.e. his roles in that case of a literary critic and master of belles-lettres. The role of the literary critic is related to the culture of the Hellenistic age and has evolved in the epoch of the 2nd-century Roman Empire. The role of the master of belles-lettres is that of the author searching for new ways beyond the classical literary patterns of the past such as Homer’s epic poems.