The Golden Ass

In this ancient picaresque tale, "The Golden Ass," a curious young man named Lucius is transformed into a donkey after meddling with black magic. As he navigates life in his new form, he encounters a diverse array of characters, including thieves, farmers, and priests, revealing the absurdities and moral shortcomings of Imperial Roman society. Celebrated as the only complete novel from the Roman period, it combines slapstick humor and sexual escapades while influencing later literary giants such as Boccaccio and Cervantes.