The Golden Ass

by M.D. Usher (Adaptor), Apuleius, T. Motley (Illustrator)

Apuleius’s comic masterpiece, originally composed in the second century A.D., traces the hilarious misadventures of a young man a tad too curious about magic for his own good. Hoping to change himself into an owl, he turns himself into a donkey instead, and in this guise is sold, stolen, or otherwise shunted from one master to the next. Along the way, he sees the underbelly of the sprawling Roman Empire, with its saints and villains, its venal merchants and greedy priests, until he’s transformed back to human form via divine intervention. M. D. Usher’s creative adaptation brings the tale alive “for young readers of all ages.” Classical scholars will admire its faithfulness and its clever innovations, while new readers―young and old―will enjoy its freshness and accessibility. Motley’s lively, thoroughly contemporary drawings capture the boisterous, see-sawing plot.

Genres: Classics

85 pages, Hardcover

Published October 31, 2011

About the author

I am a UVM alumnus (B.A. in Greek and Latin) and joined the UVM faculty in 2000. Before attending UVM as an undergraduate I apprenticed in Germany as a post-and-beam carpenter. Upon graduation from UVM, I earned my PhD in Classics at The University of Chicago.

I teach courses in Greek and Latin language and in classical civilization. I have also taught in the Integrated Humanities Program, the Teacher-Advisor Program (TAP), and the Honors College. My academic interests include orality studies, Near Eastern influences on classical literature, especially on Greek literature of the archaic period (Homer, Hesiod and the lyric poets), and ancient philosophy (the writings of Plato and Seneca in particular). I am also deeply interested in the reception of classical texts in modern works of art, music, and literature. In addition to publishing books and articles in the field of Classics, I have written an opera libretto (in Latin), original poetry, translations, and children's books. Non-academic interests include carpentry (I built my own house and outbuildings) and farming (my wife Caroline and I own and operate Works & Days Farm in Shoreham and sell market lambs, eggs, and chicken).

Reviews

[Sam]

Aşırı eğlenceli, aşırı dolu bir kitap. Fantastiğin, karnavalın gırla olduğu bir efsane.

[Jowen]

when i bought it i thought it was unabridged text. just direct translation.

you see, my bookshelves are sorted into different sections. very vaguely, you have gothic literature, asian literature (and dostoevsky), french, italian, classical (so greek and latin), and a rom-com slice of life manga section. i'm not sure where to sort this book because a) i intended it to be in the classic section, but b) it's kind of cute and very classical BC slice of life. so now i'm conflicted.

while i liked the hardcover and the art by motley (it's so american-hebdo), the writing was nice too. obviously for very intelligent children, so some things were left out (which is explained in the afterword). the afterword solves all. never skip it.

i will however, take Usher's recommendation to read the Graves' translation. so thank you for piquing my curiosity enough to want to read hardcore latin works. but you know what they say, omne ignotum pro magnifico est.

[Allyson]

A very entertaining, fast-paced story based on the work of Lucius Apuleius. I think it would be a good read for Latin students or anyone studying the Ancient World.

[University of Chicago Magazine]

Mark Usher, AM'94, PhD'97
Author

From our pages (May–June/12): "M. D. Usher, a classics professor at the University of Vermont, has adapted a Latin novel from the second century AD. His children's book tells the story of Prudentius a boy obsessed with magic who accidentally turns himself into a donkey."

[Edward Sullivan]

An entertaining, engaging, mostly faithful adaptation though most of the raunchiness is tamed. The Cupid and Psyche episode is omitted but the author explains why in the afterword. Jauntily illustrated by T. Motley.