Kalliope’s review of L'Âne d'or: ou Les Métamorphoses > Likes and Comments
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I got this today.... I am looking forward to reading it.
Very informative (and attractive) review Kalliope!
Last year when I read Midsummer Night's Dream, I wondered why the intro to that play made no mention of this as a (possible/partial) source for the play. I became aware that the story was known in the times preceding the Elizabethan age, so I wondered still. Never did find a satisfactory reason why it's not thought to have played a part. Of course in MND it's only an ass's head that's involved, not the whole body - maybe that's enough to conclud that Apuleius wasn't involved? (view spoiler)
Ted wrote: "Very informative (and attractive) review Kalliope!
Last year when I read Midsummer Night's Dream, I wondered why the intro to that play made no mention of this as a (possible/partial) source for t..."
Thank you, Ted. This is very interesting, your linking it with MND..., which I read too long ago... I should investigate. As I said in the review, when I found parallels with things from the Renaissance I was curious about this work during that time and was floored to see that Machiavelli had written his own version.
There is also the Fable by the French Perrault Donkeyskin, but have to investigate still the links (if any) with Apuleius.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donkeyskin
Luís wrote: "Very interesting..That's on my wishlist!!"
Thank you, Luís. I hope you get to read it... Will come back to this to report on the play next week...!!!
Fascinating review, Kalliope. I've been meaning to read this since my son (who has a M.A. in Greek, Latin and Classical Studies) recommended it to me. He said he knew I would like it and he hasn't steered me wrong yet.
Teresa wrote: "Fascinating review, Kalliope. I've been meaning to read this since my son (who has a M.A. in Greek, Latin and Classical Studies) recommended it to me. He said he knew I would like it and he hasn't ..."
Well, then, Teresa.. you should not make this book wait too long.
Luís wrote: "
What a shame..."
Something to look forward to, Luís.
Wonderful review as always. I read The Golden Ass ,which fellow Berber called it , St. Augustine. Want to read the book again, it was funny...
Not epic but it surely sounds fun especially with that kind of narrator. Informative, eloquent review, Kall.
Henry wrote: "Wonderful review as always. I read The Golden Ass ,which fellow Berber called it , St. Augustine. Want to read the book again, it was funny..."
Thank you, Henry. I would also like to reread this and may be try a different translation. The one by Graves seems very free, but he is an excellent writer.
Garima wrote: "Not epic but it surely sounds fun especially with that kind of narrator. Informative, eloquent review, Kall."
Thank you, Garima. Worth reading and knowing about... I will get less excited now when I read a Modernist who plays with the role of the Narrator...
Thanks for explaining this origin-novel to us so well, Kalliope, and with such perfectly chosen illustrations.
I'm reminded of Sterne - his narrator addresses the reader and anticipates his/her criticisms, and he has a long conversation with an ass: In truth, it is the only creature of all classes of beings below me, with whom I can do this: for parrots, jackdaws, &c, I never exchange a word with them, nor with apes, &c, for pretty near the same reason; they act by rote as the others speak by it, and equally make me silent: nay my dog and my cat, though I value them both (and for my dog he would speak if he could) yet somehow or other, they neither possess the talents for conversation - But with an ass, I can commune forever.
Sorry for this digression...
Fionnuala wrote: "Thanks for explaining this origin-novel to us so well, Kalliope, and with such perfectly chosen illustrations.
I'm reminded of Sterne - his narrator addresses the reader and anticipates his/her cr..."
This is a wonderful quote, Fionnuala. Thank you. I can't wait to read Sterne and am thinking of rereading Rabelais and Lazarillo.
The illustrations are by Jean de Bosschère... I should add this above.
Great review and I love the illustrations! We may read ourselves through the centuries but we will always come back to the classics ;)
Concerning translations: I am reading The Oresteia translated by Robert Graves because I couldn't find any decent translation into German and I think he does a wonderful job.
Jasmine wrote: "
Concerning translations: I am reading [book:The Oresteia|1519..."
Thank you, Jasmine. I agree, going back to the classics is a great treat. Last year was very good for me for this and I hope to continue in 2015.
Graves had a great love for the material from classical times and this shows in his translations, adaptations and novels.
I ought to read more of the great Greek dramatists.
Superbe revue Kalliope! Bises d'Amérique… :)
Yann wrote: "Superbe revue Kalliope! Bises d'Amérique… :)"
Merci... eh, oui.. je me rappelle... à Cube au moins, non?
Kalliope wrote: "Yann wrote: "Superbe revue Kalliope! Bises d'Amérique… :)"
Merci... eh, oui.. je me rappelle... à Cube au moins, non?"
Oui, Cuba, c'est ça :)
Kalliope, What a pleasure to read your review of this. It brings back very vivid memories of my days in Classical studies in my undergrad days. I received a wonderful Graves translation as my first Classics prize at University. It is among my most beloved books. You should enjoy the translation very much. As always your review is beautifully written. And your selection of images is wonderful as it is each time, further drawing the reader into the work which you explicate so clearly. No, it is not the Metamorphoses of Ovid. However, it is enjoyable on its own level as you say. Surely, your chosen name is aptly taken. You are eloquence personified.
Yann wrote: "
Oui, Cuba, c'est ça :)"
Quelle chance...!!!.. avant qu'elle change.
Mike wrote: "Kalliope, What a pleasure to read your review of this. It brings back very vivid memories of my days in Classical studies in my undergrad days. I received a wonderful Graves translation as my fi..."
Thank you, Mike. How lucky to have studied Classics... excellent basis for later learning.. Yes, I am very tempted to read Graves' translation. I am a fan of his... and have visited also his grave in a beautiful place...
A wonderful review Kall and I love the images too.
I cannot wait to read this book!
Great points Kalliope about how this book with its stories within stories inspired so many later works like the Decameron and Don Quijote. The best line in the book was the “ass lecturing philosophy” line. This was so much fun to read. We missed you!
Superb, Kalliope, as ever, with the contextual knowledge you have and the beautiful illustrations. I hadn't given the ass in Midsummer Night's Dream a thought until reading Ted's comment!
This wasn't my favourite of the classical books I have been reading but I think I approached it with a mistaken expectation of more moral development. I didn't like the religious ending but I'm sure it provided an appropriate balance for Roman readers after the bawdiness that we might assume was entirely to their taste! I did think the way that the priests fleeced the former ass at the end was quite funny.
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Feb 27, 2014 02:06PM
I got this today.... I am looking forward to reading it.
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Very informative (and attractive) review Kalliope!Last year when I read Midsummer Night's Dream, I wondered why the intro to that play made no mention of this as a (possible/partial) source for the play. I became aware that the story was known in the times preceding the Elizabethan age, so I wondered still. Never did find a satisfactory reason why it's not thought to have played a part. Of course in MND it's only an ass's head that's involved, not the whole body - maybe that's enough to conclud that Apuleius wasn't involved? (view spoiler)
Ted wrote: "Very informative (and attractive) review Kalliope!Last year when I read Midsummer Night's Dream, I wondered why the intro to that play made no mention of this as a (possible/partial) source for t..."
Thank you, Ted. This is very interesting, your linking it with MND..., which I read too long ago... I should investigate. As I said in the review, when I found parallels with things from the Renaissance I was curious about this work during that time and was floored to see that Machiavelli had written his own version.
There is also the Fable by the French Perrault Donkeyskin, but have to investigate still the links (if any) with Apuleius.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donkeyskin
Luís wrote: "Very interesting..That's on my wishlist!!"Thank you, Luís. I hope you get to read it... Will come back to this to report on the play next week...!!!
Fascinating review, Kalliope. I've been meaning to read this since my son (who has a M.A. in Greek, Latin and Classical Studies) recommended it to me. He said he knew I would like it and he hasn't steered me wrong yet.
Teresa wrote: "Fascinating review, Kalliope. I've been meaning to read this since my son (who has a M.A. in Greek, Latin and Classical Studies) recommended it to me. He said he knew I would like it and he hasn't ..."Well, then, Teresa.. you should not make this book wait too long.
Luís wrote: "What a shame..."
Something to look forward to, Luís.
Wonderful review as always. I read The Golden Ass ,which fellow Berber called it , St. Augustine. Want to read the book again, it was funny...
Not epic but it surely sounds fun especially with that kind of narrator. Informative, eloquent review, Kall.
Henry wrote: "Wonderful review as always. I read The Golden Ass ,which fellow Berber called it , St. Augustine. Want to read the book again, it was funny..."Thank you, Henry. I would also like to reread this and may be try a different translation. The one by Graves seems very free, but he is an excellent writer.
Garima wrote: "Not epic but it surely sounds fun especially with that kind of narrator. Informative, eloquent review, Kall."Thank you, Garima. Worth reading and knowing about... I will get less excited now when I read a Modernist who plays with the role of the Narrator...
Thanks for explaining this origin-novel to us so well, Kalliope, and with such perfectly chosen illustrations. I'm reminded of Sterne - his narrator addresses the reader and anticipates his/her criticisms, and he has a long conversation with an ass: In truth, it is the only creature of all classes of beings below me, with whom I can do this: for parrots, jackdaws, &c, I never exchange a word with them, nor with apes, &c, for pretty near the same reason; they act by rote as the others speak by it, and equally make me silent: nay my dog and my cat, though I value them both (and for my dog he would speak if he could) yet somehow or other, they neither possess the talents for conversation - But with an ass, I can commune forever.
Sorry for this digression...
Fionnuala wrote: "Thanks for explaining this origin-novel to us so well, Kalliope, and with such perfectly chosen illustrations. I'm reminded of Sterne - his narrator addresses the reader and anticipates his/her cr..."
This is a wonderful quote, Fionnuala. Thank you. I can't wait to read Sterne and am thinking of rereading Rabelais and Lazarillo.
The illustrations are by Jean de Bosschère... I should add this above.
Great review and I love the illustrations! We may read ourselves through the centuries but we will always come back to the classics ;)Concerning translations: I am reading The Oresteia translated by Robert Graves because I couldn't find any decent translation into German and I think he does a wonderful job.
Jasmine wrote: "Concerning translations: I am reading [book:The Oresteia|1519..."
Thank you, Jasmine. I agree, going back to the classics is a great treat. Last year was very good for me for this and I hope to continue in 2015.
Graves had a great love for the material from classical times and this shows in his translations, adaptations and novels.
I ought to read more of the great Greek dramatists.
Superbe revue Kalliope! Bises d'Amérique… :)
Yann wrote: "Superbe revue Kalliope! Bises d'Amérique… :)"Merci... eh, oui.. je me rappelle... à Cube au moins, non?
Kalliope wrote: "Yann wrote: "Superbe revue Kalliope! Bises d'Amérique… :)"Merci... eh, oui.. je me rappelle... à Cube au moins, non?"
Oui, Cuba, c'est ça :)
Kalliope, What a pleasure to read your review of this. It brings back very vivid memories of my days in Classical studies in my undergrad days. I received a wonderful Graves translation as my first Classics prize at University. It is among my most beloved books. You should enjoy the translation very much. As always your review is beautifully written. And your selection of images is wonderful as it is each time, further drawing the reader into the work which you explicate so clearly. No, it is not the Metamorphoses of Ovid. However, it is enjoyable on its own level as you say. Surely, your chosen name is aptly taken. You are eloquence personified.
Yann wrote: "Oui, Cuba, c'est ça :)"
Quelle chance...!!!.. avant qu'elle change.
Mike wrote: "Kalliope, What a pleasure to read your review of this. It brings back very vivid memories of my days in Classical studies in my undergrad days. I received a wonderful Graves translation as my fi..."Thank you, Mike. How lucky to have studied Classics... excellent basis for later learning.. Yes, I am very tempted to read Graves' translation. I am a fan of his... and have visited also his grave in a beautiful place...
A wonderful review Kall and I love the images too.I cannot wait to read this book!
Great points Kalliope about how this book with its stories within stories inspired so many later works like the Decameron and Don Quijote. The best line in the book was the “ass lecturing philosophy” line. This was so much fun to read. We missed you!
Superb, Kalliope, as ever, with the contextual knowledge you have and the beautiful illustrations. I hadn't given the ass in Midsummer Night's Dream a thought until reading Ted's comment!This wasn't my favourite of the classical books I have been reading but I think I approached it with a mistaken expectation of more moral development. I didn't like the religious ending but I'm sure it provided an appropriate balance for Roman readers after the bawdiness that we might assume was entirely to their taste! I did think the way that the priests fleeced the former ass at the end was quite funny.