{"product_id":"the-golden-ass-lucius-africanus-apuleius-9791043137419","title":"The Golden Ass","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Golden Ass\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLucius Africanus Apuleius\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cstrong\u003eThe Golden Ass\u003c\/strong\u003e, or Metamorphoses, \u003cstrong\u003eLucian\u003c\/strong\u003e is on a business trip to Greece when his curiosity gets the best of him and he finds himself accidentally transformed into a donkey. He then narrates his provincial odyssey in a world where old gods rule, myth informs life, Fortune is fickle, Thessalian witches are puissant, and a curious man seeking to learn their craft might well lament making an ass of himself.Apuleius was a second-century speaker and writer born in present-day Algeria who authors, narrates, and is the subject of this bawdy, picaresque, quasi-autobiographical story. He himself traveled extensively, studied \u003cem\u003ephilosophy\u003c\/em\u003e, was initiated into mystery cults, and became a priest. He was also tried for witchcraft, accused of having betrothed his wife Pudentilla by charms other than those of his personality.The novel was translated into \"Tudor prose\" by Adlington in \u003cstrong\u003e1566\u003c\/strong\u003e during the \"golden age of translation,\" and it was this version that was read by \u003cstrong\u003eShakespeare\u003c\/strong\u003e and influenced his work. The novel contains many digression, mythological references, and inset stories, the most significant being the story of Cupid and Psyche.This is the only complete Latin novel from antiquity that has survived to the present day, and has been called \"a beginning of modern literature.\" \u003cstrong\u003eThe Latin\u003c\/strong\u003e original was the one read by \u003cstrong\u003eAugustine of Hippo\u003c\/strong\u003e who adapted Apuleius' confessional style in his own writing-he even responded to Apuleius directly in his own \u003cem\u003ephilosophy\u003c\/em\u003e. In its theology, \u003cstrong\u003eThe Golden Ass\u003c\/strong\u003e embodies an inclusive monotheism. From Kafka, to Pinocchio, to the motion picture The Fly, the influence of Apuleius and his Metamorphoses continues to be felt.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Lucius Africanus Apuleius\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9791043137419\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Les Prairies Numeriques\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 02\/27\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 312\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.92lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.70d","brand":"Lucius Africanus Apuleius","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48517168627967,"sku":"9791043137419","price":24.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_b6d7afa8-99dd-4cc8-ab93-8075b0533bae.jpg?v=1778730365","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-golden-ass-lucius-africanus-apuleius-9791043137419","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}