Apollo and Daphne, Daedalus and Icarus, the abduction of Proserpina: these are just three examples from the many ancient myths that Ovid narrates in his "Metamorphoses" – the tales of transformation. Skillfully transitioning from one legend to another, Ovid created an epic composed of nearly 12,000 verses, filled with powerful imagery and fantastic stories, influencing numerous artists from William Shakespeare to Salman Rushdie.

Ovid's tales of transformation are among the most impactful works of Roman literature, and they continue to be widely received in art and literature today. The translation by the highly acclaimed Heidelberg emeritus Michael von Albrecht is regarded as the best prose translation of this significant ancient work – complete with a concise biography of the author.