The Golden Ass or Metamorphoses

By: Apuleius

Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble

This tale of a man who, when tinkering with magic, becomes changed into an ass is one of the most entertaining and remarkable stories from classic Latin literature. It is funny, bawdy and completely approachable - but also shows life from the point of view of a beast of burden in the Roman Empire of the second century CE.

Lucius is an active young man enjoying life - and the favours of an attentive maid, one Fotis - when the temptation to experiment with a magic potion proves too great.

Life is very different as a four-footed animal, and he goes from one drama to another, in danger of his life at one point, facing seduction at another.

Within this account of these adventures, Apuleius (c124-c170 CE) places ribald stories which are more familiar through retellings by Boccaccio and Chaucer. But there are also passages of considerable literary beauty, particularly in the extended account of Cupid and Psyche.

The Golden Ass, in this lively performance by Jonathan Keeble, is a delight from start to finish.

Translation: Bohn (1853), revised for this production.

Public Domain (P)2016 Ukemi Productions Ltd

One of the best audiobooks I have listened to

This is a great audiobook. First, this is one of the great novels of the ancient world. It tells of the ribald misadventures of a traveler turned into a donkey as a result of his curiosity in magic and the supernatural. The translation is from 1914, Bohn Classical Library. Second, Jonathan Keeble narrates an innumerable set of English accents that is simply a wonder to listen to. This is one of the best narrations I have ever listened to! It really adds a liveliness to the translation that I would never have experienced by reading it to myself. A tour de force.

Anthology of myths

Apuleius manages to weave several myths and stories into his tale of transformation. Keeble is an excellent narrator and brings the characters alive.
Note for the faint of heart, there is a shocking amout of animal abuse described in graphic detail in the tales. It really shows the horrid conditions animals had in the past, and tragically some still do.

Bawdy Tales from Roman Times

What did you love best about The Golden Ass or Metamorphoses?

Anyone who thinks that "classic" = dull should read this story of sex, magic, and donkey poo.

What about Jonathan Keeble’s performance did you like?

I will never understand why audiobook publishers make it so hard to figure out which translation they are using. For anyone who cares, this is the original translation into English by William Adlington. It dates from the 1500s so the language can be difficult at times. Fortunately the narrator pulls you along so well that words like 'peregrination' don't give you much trouble.

Masterful on several levels

Most enjoyable translation, performance and production very entertaining.

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excellent narration

For those who think this might be a dry work, it has moments where it would be if not for the narrator. His impressions of women, although funny and slightly silly, are balanced and really help drive the story.

Do not, however, listen to this with sensitive people or young children. It has a sprinkling of very adult and sexual material.