The Golden Ass

<p class=ql-align-justify>The Golden Ass weaves together several storylines and characters. The main character Martin an Irishman teaching in Paris takes a sabbatical from marriage and family life to confront his demons of sexual confusion and PTSD arising from his period as a monk. Guilt-ridden pursued by rumours of criminality he travels through Europe to Rome where he meets Hilary an angelic rent boy in his twenties. They begin a whirlwind affair. Martin's wife Sarah goes in search of him.</p><p class=ql-align-justify>The Golden Ass it alludes to the ancient Roman novel of the same name which was the story of a man turned into a donkey. Similarly in O'Driscoll's work the protagonist undergoes personal and psychological transformation. Early reviews of the novella has described it as Disturbing heart-warming and with generous amounts of darkly funny moments.</p><p><br></p>