Among the Ancients II: Apuleius

Apuleius’ ‘Metamorphoses’, better known as ‘The Golden Ass’, is the only ancient Roman novel to have survived in its entirety. Following the story of Lucius, forced to suffer as a donkey until the goddess Isis intervenes, the novel includes frenetic wordplay, filthy humour and the earliest known version of the Psyche and Cupid myth. In this episode, Tom and Emily discuss Apuleius’ anarchic mix of the high and low brow, and his incisive depiction of the lives of impoverished and enslaved people. Non-subscribers will only hear an extract from this episode. To listen in full and to our other Close Readings series, sign up: Directly in Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3pJoFPq In other podcast apps: lrb.me/closereadings Further reading in the LRB: Peter Parsons: Ancient Greek Romances https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v03/n15/peter-parsons/ancient-greek-romances Leofranc Holford-Strevens: God’s Will https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v25/n10/leofranc-holford-strevens/god-s-will Get in touch: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices