The Story

The Golden Asse follows Lucius, a curious young man with a taste for magic. While staying in Thessaly, a region famous for witchcraft, he gets his hands on a magical ointment he thinks will turn him into a bird. Spoiler: it doesn't. He transforms into a donkey instead. The rest of the book is his journey to find the antidote—a simple rose—while being passed from one terrible owner to the next. As a donkey, he's invisible to the humans around him, and he becomes a silent witness to their most ridiculous and scandalous secrets.

Why You Should Read It

Forget everything you think you know about ancient literature. This book is hilarious. It's packed with slapstick, satire, and some truly outrageous stories that Lucius overhears. It's also surprisingly deep. Underneath all the jokes about bad priests and foolish lovers, Apuleius is asking big questions about curiosity, suffering, and redemption. The most famous section is the beautiful, standalone fairy tale of Cupid and Psyche, which Lucius hears while still a donkey. It's a story within a story that adds a whole layer of magic.

Final Verdict

This is the perfect book for anyone who thinks classics have to be stuffy. If you enjoy bawdy humor, sharp social satire, and stories about transformation (both magical and spiritual), you'll love this. It's a chaotic, charming, and utterly unique ride through the ancient world that still feels fresh and funny today. Just be ready for some surprisingly modern-feeling antics!