Metamorphoses (the Golden Ass), Volume I
Books 1-6
By Lucius Apuleius; Lucius Apuleius; J. Arthur Hanson (Editor)
(Harvard University Press, Hardcover, 9780674990494, 336pp.)
Publication Date: January 1996
Other Editions of This Title: Hardcover
Categories: Ancient and Classical
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In the "Metamorphoses" of Apuleius, also known as "The Golden Ass, " we have the only Latin novel which survives entire. It is truly enchanting: a delightful romance combining realism and magic.
The hero, Lucius, eager to experience the sensations of a bird, resorts to witchcraft but by an unfortunate pharmaceutical error finds himself transformed into an ass. He knows he can revert to his own body by eating rose-petals, but these prove singularly elusive; and the bulk of the work describes his adventures as an animal. He also retails many stories that he overheard, the most charming being that of Cupid and Psyche (beginning, in true fairy-tale fashion, '"Erant in quadam civitate rex et regina"'). Some of the stories are as indecent as they are witty, and two in the ninth book were deemed by Boccaccio worthy of inclusion in the "Decameron." At last the goddess Isis takes pity on Lucius. In a surprising denouement, he is restored to human shape and, now spiritually regenerated, is initiated into her mysteries. The author's baroque Latin style nicely matches his fantastic narrative and is guaranteed to hold a reader's attention from beginning to end.
J. Arthur Hanson was at the time of his death in 1985 Giger Professor of Latin at Princeton University. His publications include "Roman Theater-Temples."
The Loeb Classical Library edition of Apuleius is in two volumes.
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Flight Behavior Barbara Kingsolver Harper |
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The Art Forger Barbara Shapiro Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill |
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Sweeth Tooth Ian McEwan Nan A. Talese |
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The Light Between Oceans ML Steadman Scribner |
