The Poems of Sappho (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781483910437)

Sappho, the earliest and most famous Greek woman poet, sang her songs around 600 BCE on the island of Lesbos. Of the little that survives from the approximately nine papyrus scrolls collected in antiquity, all is translated here: substantial poems, fragments, single words - and, notably, five stanzas of a poem that came to light in 2014. Also included are new additions to five fragments from the latest discovery, and a nearly complete poem published in 2004. The power of Sappho s poetry - her direct style, rich imagery, and passion - is apparent even in these remnants. Diane Rayor s translations of Greek poetry are graceful and poetic, modern in diction yet faithful to the originals. The full range of Sappho s voice is heard in these poems about desire, friendship, rivalry, family, and "passion for the light of life." In the introduction and notes, internationally respected Sappho scholar Andre Lardinois presents plausible reconstructions of Sappho s life and work, the importance of the recent discoveries in understanding the performance of her songs, and the story of how these fragments survived."

Author: Sappho
ISBN-10: 1483910431
ISBN-13: 9781483910437
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Language: English
Published: 04/21/2013
Pages: 72
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.42lbs
Size: 11.00h x 8.50w x 0.19d