Apuleius' Metamorphoses (or The Golden Ass), a masterpiece of Latin literature from the second century AD, still captivates modern readers with its combination of asininity and mysticism. In the novel, a young man named Lucius tells how he accidentally turns into a donkey and then describes how he regains human form with the help of the Egyptian goddess Isis, into whose cult he is initiated. This book argues that invisibility is one of the central motifs in the Metamorphoses and, in the process, presents a new interpretation of Apuleius' novel as a visionary, esoteric text. It contributes both to the study of the subtle relationship between literature and Platonic philosophy and to the cultural history of invisibility in classical antiquity and beyond.

‘… Apuleius’ Invisible Ass is a rich treasure-trove of analysis … The text itself is well-produced … the chapters are nicely laid-out in easily manageable thematic sections.’

Jeffrey Ulrich Source: Bryn Mawr Classical Review

'… a work that is itself a diverting pleasure to read and whose contemplation is sure to lead the reader, if not to philosophical transcendence, then at least to a higher understanding of Apuleius’ novel.'

Evelyn Adkins Source: Plekos