Golden Ass (Midland Books No 36)
by Lucius Apuleius, Jack Lindsay (Translator)
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Read in February, 2004
Lucius wanted to change from man to an animal, but he was caught in the series of unfortunate events which ended with desired change but not in to what he wanted to change. He became an ass and started the Roman road story. I think it was the first road story with such sharp and twisted humor. Lucius, the ass, had only one hope to taste roses and only if he did, he would become a man. It would be easy to just wait at his place for roses to bloom, but ... but the new misery was added as he was wi...more
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Read in August, 2007
recommended to Roland by:
Scottrecommends it for: Latin scholars, Robert Graves fans
I admit it, I only read this book because of its title. This is a good book, though, and is similar to other books like Don Quixote, Candide, and A Cool Million where a character for whatever reasons leaves home and encounters a number of brutal and bizarre strangers. I have to emphasis the "brutal" aspect of this book, since Lucius goes through a number of terrifying ordeals which shocked me due to how old this book is. The book ends strangely, with redemption and a pledging of fai...more
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Read in March, 2008
recommends it for:
classical literature buffs
So, I happened to be looking at this book, titled '1001 books to read before you die' (I have a thing for list books) and my OCD kicked in and I was compelled to begin reading all the books listed from beginning to end. So that is how this book made onto my reading list. And for being over 2000 years old, its an entertaining tale, just make sure to get a good modern translation. That makes all the difference with these. But if you like magical realism written in the context of an ancient civ...more
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Read in October, 2001
Apuleius is eerily familiar to a modern eye. His seamless blending of suggested mystery cults, Platonic references, and frolicking humor and sexuality make The Golden Ass an entertainment worth repeating. Whether or not the reader is intent on making a sustained foray into the issue of book 11 and treats the book as a religio-philosophical piece or reads it just as a romp through Latin humor and lustiness bears little weight on the ultimate pleasure of the novel as a good read.
Not so much ...more
Not so much ...more
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Read in April, 2008
recommended to jun by:
CL 100
I especially like Jack Lindsay's translation.
Granted, the stories themselves are quite lewd and disturbing, and honestly I personally, don't think it's that funny...
BUT,
I must say I loved the story of the drunken old lady to the captive girl, namely that of Cupid and Psyche.
And that is enough for me to give this book 4 stars.
Also, it's fascinating to see how the narrative works in this story. Which Lucius is narrating which parts??!
Okay, will stop there before nerdines...more
Granted, the stories themselves are quite lewd and disturbing, and honestly I personally, don't think it's that funny...
BUT,
I must say I loved the story of the drunken old lady to the captive girl, namely that of Cupid and Psyche.
And that is enough for me to give this book 4 stars.
Also, it's fascinating to see how the narrative works in this story. Which Lucius is narrating which parts??!
Okay, will stop there before nerdines...more
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Read in January, 1998
This is, I believe, the only Latin novel to survive in its entirety. Written in the mid-late second century CE, it's the story of Lucius, a man transformed into a donkey when he messes with magic. He spends the rest of the book, trying to get back into human form (while having all kinds of ridiculous adventures in the body of a donkey) before being saved by dedication to the goddess Isis and initiated into her cult.
This contains one of the earliest references to the Cupid & Psyche story.
This contains one of the earliest references to the Cupid & Psyche story.
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Read in October, 2007
This book is somewhat Don Quixote, somewhat Ovid's Metamorphoses, totally crazy and sexy and filled with outrageous imbedded stories. At the risk of being over-dramatic, this book symbolizes the pleasure that a reading life can hold in store--you can major in literature, be a serious reader for decades, and then randomly pick up a book at a used bookstore, buy it only because you have credit there and they are about to go out of business, and discover--the golden ass! How marvelous!
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Read in June, 2007
Like the Decameron, the stories in this book are a bit uneven, but I give it three stars because I'm quite fond of the Amor/Psyche story that's buried in the middle there somewhere. Anyone who expects love to come easily and without a good deal of personal psychological trial should read this story. Plus, the antagonism toward moralizing evident in just about every story leaves me with the same, pleasant 'tend your own garden' feeling of Voltaire.
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Eunuchs, witches, magic...
live donkey and women sex shows...what???
proving that smutty literature and perverse sexual practices have been tainting the world long before the present day. the only roman novel to survive 2000 years and who the hell knows why. regardless, extremely entertaining, at times laugh out loud funny. i should mention i read the robert graves translation (a more readable, modern translation).
live donkey and women sex shows...what???
proving that smutty literature and perverse sexual practices have been tainting the world long before the present day. the only roman novel to survive 2000 years and who the hell knows why. regardless, extremely entertaining, at times laugh out loud funny. i should mention i read the robert graves translation (a more readable, modern translation).
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Read in April, 2008
recommends it for:
mythology fans, fantasy, old story telling
A thoroughly enjoyable mythological treat! Easy read, very entertaining. However, there are some graphic parts dealing with sex and beastiality. Quite a shock...and you have to reread the passage to make sure they are talking about what you think they're talking about. However, it's not (overly) offensive, and written in a humorous way. Overall, a hilarious, bright, refreshing comedic piece. I highly recommend!
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Anyone who thinks studying Classics is a waste of time has obviously never read "The Golden Ass," whether in the original or in translation. I love the 19th-century dandy-fied tone Robert Graves affects in telling the story of the hapless Lucius, and the "Cupid and Psyche" digression in the middle of the books is one of the most beautiful fairy tales ever. A must read!
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Strange, fragmented, hilarious...perhaps the original road novel, on donkey hooves. Bestiality, human foibles, and shenanigans galore. The weird cult-of-Isis ending is the worst since Upton Sinclair's crappy socialist-conversion ending to "the Jungle," th.
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Read in April, 2008
As Oscar Wilde put it, "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." This wild and hilarious fantasy plumbs the depths and ascends to the heights of humanity. A sort of ribald Romana Commedia. (Also includes the profound and lovely tale of Cupid and Psyche).
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Read in January, 1990
recommended to Wifey by:
Dadrecommends it for: 7th Graders
I read this book in 7th grade for a book report only so I could say "Ass" over and over in front of my parochial school ex-nun teacher and class mates. But I actually liked it. It's got witches and sex and getting changed into an Ass. Fun read.
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Read it! It has donkeys and werewolves and serpent-monsters and witches and Isiacs and all sorts of insane craziness! Also important to the development of the novel in Western literature, and other sort of smart things, but whatever.
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This is an hysterically funny proto-picaresque novel, translated from the Latin. The conceit is the narrator gets turned into an ass (donkey, for you euphemists) and has many adventures, exploring the foibles of men.
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Read in July, 2008
I generally enjoy classical literature but this was one story that seemed to fall a little short. It may have been because the first hundred pages ran somewhat slowly. Although entertaining, I wouldn't say great.
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this is one of the ancient texts that convinced me that western religion hasn't changed all that much in thousands of years--it's all about salvation and messiah-figures ... and men turning into donkeys. so cool!
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Read in July, 2007
Dudes! Hot stuff! This one has crazy Roman slave sex, beastiality, and our hero is a donkey. Classic chapters when he ends up with a band of thieves. Funny as shizz. Must read.
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My review refers to Robert Graves translation. The narrative drags in the way that most classics do to the modern reader, but it does offer a lot of insight to Roman society.
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