The Golden Ass (Oxford World’s Classics) is a unique Latin novel from antiquity, authored by Apuleius and translated with fidelity to its original meaning while capturing its exuberance. The story follows Lucius, a young man driven by curiosity about sex and magic who transforms into an ass. Through a series of trials and humiliations, he finds redemption through the benevolence of the goddess Isis. Blending elements of romantic adventure, fable, and religious testimony, this work is considered one of the seminal texts in European literature, offering insights not only as a novel but also as early picaresque fiction.

Published by Oxford University Press on June 15, 2008, with an ISBN-13 of 978-0199540556 and a print length of 336 pages, this edition is part of the esteemed Oxford World’s Classics series, which aims to make a wide range of global literature accessible. Each volume in this collection includes scholarly introductions by leading authorities, detailed notes, up-to-date bibliographies, and other valuable features to enhance the reader’s experience.