This anthology investigates the critical reception and scholarly interpretation of the Roman novels written by Petronius and Apuleius. S. J. Harrison, a noted scholar in the field of classical literature, compiles a selection of influential essays that span three decades of research. By translating and curating works originally published in German and Italian alongside English contributions, the text provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the evolution of Roman novel studies throughout the 20th century.

Experts identify this volume as a foundational resource for students and researchers of classical literature. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the value of having previously inaccessible foreign-language scholarship consolidated in one English-language text.