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The Golden Ass: Being the Metamorphoses of Lucius Apuleius
Paperback
FantasyClassic FictionGeneral Fiction
ISBN13: 9781025690162
Publisher: Tradd Street Press
Published: Feb 14 2026
Pages: 650
Weight: 1.98
Height: 1.31 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
The Golden Ass, also known as the Metamorphoses, is the only ancient Roman novel in Latin to survive in its entirety. Written by Apuleius in the second century AD, this masterpiece of classical literature follows the misadventures of Lucius, a young man whose fascination with magic leads to a disastrous accidental transformation into a donkey. Through the eyes of his animal form, Lucius observes the foibles, vices, and daily lives of various strata of Roman society, encountering bandits, corrupt priests, and tragic lovers.
The narrative is a vibrant picaresque journey, famous for its tales within tales, most notably the beautiful and enduring myth of Cupid and Psyche. Blending elements of ribald comedy, dark satire, and profound religious mystery, the work culminates in a spiritual awakening and Lucius's eventual restoration through the grace of the goddess Isis. This classic work remains a cornerstone of Western literature, offering an unparalleled glimpse into the cultural and spiritual landscape of the later Roman Empire while exploring themes of curiosity, redemption, and the human condition.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
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