Description
The daughter of an aristocratic family, a wife, a devoted mother and a lover of women, Sappho was one of the greatest writers of her own or any age. Although most people have heard of Sappho, the story of her lost poems and the lives of ancient women they celebrate has never been told for a general audience.
Philip Freeman paints a vivid picture of Sappho's world. He delves into religious rites, customs, the role of women in the family, medical knowledge and the experience of motherhood at the time. Through this contextual knowledge, a picture of Sappho's life emerges. Freeman uses his vast historical research, in conjunction with Sappho's poems and other Greek works of fiction, to bring us the closest we can come to knowing the biographical details of this most famous woman poet.
About the Author
The author of more than a dozen books on the ancient world, Philip Freeman is a professor and chair of the classics department at Luther College. He earned his PhD from Harvard University. He lives in Decorah, Iowa.
Reviews
"... plain and elegant translations of Sappho's fragments..." -- Times Higher Education
"This short book provides an admirably clear and compact introduction to Sappho, while offering as a bonus a complete new translation of her frustratingly incomplete known oeuvre..." -- The Independent
Book Information
ISBN 9780393242232
Author Philip Freeman
Format Hardback
Page Count 336
Imprint WW Norton & Co
Publisher WW Norton & Co
Weight(grams) 491g
Dimensions(mm) 218mm * 152mm * 30mm
