Sappho Through English Poetry (Poetica, 27) - Softcover

Sappho

Softcover

ISBN 10: 085646273X ISBN 13: 9780856462733

Publisher: Anvil Press Poetry, 2004

Synopsis

The poetry of Sappho, who was born around 620 BC and lived on the Greek island of Lesbos, has inspired and fascinated readers and poets for two and a half thousand years. Today, as in antiquity, she is regarded as Greece's supreme lyric poet. Yet apart from a few near-complete poems, her poetry survives largely in tantalizing fragments.

 

This book traces Sappho's reception in English-language poetry through translations and poems about her. From Donne and Pope via Swinburne, Bliss Carman and Pound to contemporary poets such as Michael Longley and Olga Broumas, it both celebrates and illustrates our changing image of Sappho.

 

Peter Jay edited The Greek Anthology for Penguin Classics. He is the author of a collection of poems, Shifting Frontiers, and has translated some modern Romanian and Hungarian poetry.

 

Caroline Lewis is a writer and lecturer specializing in women's writing and history. She has lived and worked in London and Hong Kong and now lives in Edinburgh.

About this title

About the Author

Peter Jay is a poet who has translated a variety of ancient and modern poets, including Nerval, Pilinszky, Blandiana and Stanescu. He edited The Greek Anthology (Penguin, 1973). He is the editorial director of Anvil Press.

Caroline Lewis is a writer and lecturer specializing in women's writing and history.

 

Review

'Sappho Through English Poetry' is a brilliant idea - You find you're following English poetry over four centuries through the prism of two Greek poems, like a CD of Callas, Joan Sutherland, Piaf, Billie Holiday, Bjork and the Spice Girls all singing the same song.' - Ruth Padel, The Observer'What this collection achieves is a commentary on our own literary history, rather than simply a nod to a great classical poet.' - Jane Holland, Poetry Review

About this edition

• Publisher: Anvil Press Poetry
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 085646273X
• ISBN 13: 9780856462733
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 144
• Editor: Peter Jay, Caroline Lewis