The Roman Novel
Edition: New edition
Publisher: Duckworth Publishing; Bristol Classical Press
Published: March 1, 1995
Language: eng
Format: Paperback
Number of pages: 272
ISBN-13: 9781853994500
Subjects: Literary studies: classical, early & medieval; Novels, other prose & writers; History - General History; Latin; Ancient - Rome; Ancient and Classical; Composition & Creative Writing - General; Literature & Fiction / Literature; Language Arts & Disciplines / Composition & Creative Writing
Description: "'The Satyricon' of Petronius and the 'Metamorphoses' (or 'The Golden Ass') of Apuleius are the only novels written at Rome before AD 200 to have survived. The genre is the comic romance, the literature of relaxation in the ancient world. This study defines the genre and sets it in the context of other forms of fiction of the period. It shows that both Petronius and Apuleius introduced important innovations into the traditional comic romance. A critical study of 'The Satyricon' is included, with a separate chapter on Trimalchio's feast, a central comic episode of the book. 'The Golden Ass' is similarly examined, again with special analysis of its centre piece, the story of Cupid and Psyche. The book assesses the later influence of the two novels on the mainstream of European picaresque fiction."--Bloomsbury Publishing

"The Satyricon" of Petronius and the "Metamorphoses" (or "The Golden Ass") of Apuleius are the only novels written at Rome before AD 200 to have survived. The genre is the comic romance, the literature of relaxation in the ancient world. This study defines the genre and sets it in the context of other forms of fiction of the period. It shows that both Petronius and Apuleius introduced important innovations into the traditional comic romance. A critical study of "The Satyricon" is included, with a separate chapter on Trimalchio's feast, a central comic episode of the book. "The Golden Ass" is similarly examined, again with special analysis of its centre piece, the story of Cupid and Psyche. The book assesses the later influence of the two novels on the mainstream of European picaresque fiction
Notes: Bristol Classical Paperbacks