About the Book:”Hansen has assembled an anthology like no other, which will fascinate students of late antiquity, folklorists, and curiosity-seekers, and will offer new possibilities to teachers of ancient-culture surveys.” Classical World” . . . lively, entertaining, and unique anthology . . . This anthology is appropriate not only for graduate and undergraduate students in classics but for anyone interested in the transmission of folklore.” Journal of American Folklore” . . . higly readable English translations of a wide variety of Greek texts . . . a solid introduction to the general question of ‘popular literature’ in the ancient world.” Bryn Mawr Classical Review” . . . what one hopes for in an anthology . . . this volume can be used as a textbook yet is of benefit for the scholar, has clear, well-written, and well-formed introductions that avoid eccentricity while noting different viewpoints, and provides a representative selection of mostly complete works.” The Petronian Society NewsletterReaders in ancient Greece didn’t curl up with only the weighty tomes of Homer, Plato, and Sophoclesthey also enjoyed light entertainment such as novels, short stories, fantasies, jokes, and fortune-telling handbooks. In fact, some of this literature was so successful that it remained in circulation into the Middle Ages. Most of these selections are little known except to scholars, but all will prove an unexpected delight to readers everywhere.Table of Contents: Introduction Part One: Popular Fiction1. Romantic NovelXenophon of Ephesus, an Ephesian Tale Translated by Moses Hadas2. Christian NovellaAnonymous, the Acts of Paul and Thecla Translated by R. Mcl. Wilson3. Wisdom LiteratureAnonymous, Secundus the Silent Philosopher Translated by Ben E. Perry4. Comic NovelPseudo-lucian, Lucius or the Ass Translated by Paul Turner5. Comic BiographyAnonymous, the Aesop Romance Translated by Lloyd W. Daly6. Historic NovelPseudo-callisthenes, the Alexander Romance Translated by Ken DowdenPart Two: Popular Compilations 7. WondersPhlegon of Tralles, Book of Marvels Translated by William Hansen8. FablesAnonymous, Collectio Augustana Translated by William Hansen9. JokesHierocles and Philagrius, the Laughter Lover Translated by William HansenPart Three: A Popular Handbook10. FortunetellingAnonymous, the Oracles of Astrampsychus Translated by Randall Stewart and Kenneth MorrellPart Four: Popular Literature in Public Places11. Popular Literature on StoneGravestone Verse Translated by William HansenWorks Cited