Amor and Psyche: The Psychic Development of the Feminine

The renowned tale of Amor and Psyche, from Apuleius' second-century Latin novel THE GOLDEN ASS, is one of the most charming fragments of classical literature. Erich Neumann has chosen it as the exemplar of an unusual study of feminine psychology. Unfolding the spiritual and mythical background of the pagan narrative, he shows how the contest between the mortal maid Psyche and the great goddess Aphrodite over the god Amor —Aphrodite's son, Psyche's husband— yields to the modern reader surprising and valuable insights into the psychic life of the woman. [From the back cover.]