The renowned tale of Amor and Psyche, from Apuleius's second-century
Latin novel The Golden Ass, is one of the most charming fragments of
classical literature. Neumann chose 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 surprising and valuable
insights into the psychic life of women.