Lies and Fiction in the Ancient World

Book excerpt: Considering how far "lying" was distinguished from "fiction" at different periods and in different genres. The areas covered are early Greek poetry (E.L. Bowie), Plato (Christopher Gill), Greek and Roman historiography (J.L. Moles and T.P. Wiseman), and the Greek and Roman novel (J.R. Morgan and Andrew Laird). Michael Wood and D.C. Feeney discuss the literary critical questions involved and draw connections with contemporary debate. All Greek and Latin passages are.