Books with title The Golden Compass

Preface And unto the Readers of this Book THAT I to thee some joyous jests may show in gentle gloze, And frankly feed thy bended eares with passing pleasant prose: So that thou daine in seemly sort this wanton booke to view, That is set out and garnisht fine, with written phrases new. I will declare how one by hap his humane figure lost, And how in brutish formed shape, his loathed life he tost. And how he was in course of time from such a state unfold, Who eftsoone turn'd to pristine shape his lot unlucky told.

There are worlds beyond our own--the Compass will show the way . . .Never before have fans been able to enter the world of The Golden Compass in such a strikingly visual way. This guide to the fictional world of the movie, focuses on the richness of the people, creatures, daemons, and inventions that populate its startling landscape. Includes a press-out golden compass and sticker sheet.

The Golden Ass has the distinction of being the only novel from Classical Rome to have survived completely to the modern day. This classic translation by William Adlington preserves the original spirit of the text, which is filled with adventurous whimsy. The protagonist, Lucius, has an obsession with magic and wishes above all else to perform and demonstrate his abilities. However one day, during an attempt to turn himself into a bird, Lucius instead turns himself into an ass, or donkey. After this transformation Lucius must journey from place to place, seeking to reverse his fate. What follows are a series of adventures wherein fellow characters, and the ensuing escapades and misfortunes, must be endured by Lucius in spite of his animal form. Facing accusations of murder, almost being cooked for his meat, finding himself under the ownership of a Roman Legionary and meeting the Goddess Isis are just a few of the events that transpire around Lucius. Variously attributed with the status of comic novel, coming of age story, and episodic adventure book, The Golden Ass remains an entertaining read. Whether the reader is a student of classics or early literature, or simply desires a good novel of historical import, the text is worthy of reading.