Tab Article

Ratings: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
Genre: Classical Literature / Picaresque Fiction / Latin Fiction / Humor / Fantasy

Book Review:
Apuleius’ The Golden Ass is the only complete Roman novel to survive from antiquity. It tells the story of Lucius, a young man who, through a magical experiment gone wrong, is transformed into a donkey. In his animal form, he is passed from owner to owner — bandits, priests, slaves, aristocrats — witnessing and causing all kinds of bawdy, comic, and terrifying adventures. Embedded within the main story is the beautiful fairy-tale of “Cupid and Psyche,” one of the most beloved myths of antiquity. Robert Graves (author of I, Claudius) provides a lively, readable translation. This Penguin Classics edition is a treasure for anyone interested in ancient fiction, magic, and humor. A precursor to Cervantes and Apuleius.