Sappho
A New Translation of the Complete Works

Diane Rayor's graceful translations and André Lardinois's thorough introduction and notes present the best combination of intelligibility, information, and poetry.

Diane J. Rayor (Edited and translated by), André Lardinois (Introduction by)

9781107023598, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 14 July 2014

184 pages, 1 b/w illus.
22.3 x 14.5 x 1.7 cm, 0.38 kg

'This beautiful book offers exactly what it says on its cover: a new translation of the complete works of Sappho. The fullness and quality of the work make it a wonderful resource for the Greekless, and it will be of considerable value to students of classical literature too. Cambridge University Press deserves our thanks for producing such an accurate and attractive volume at such a reasonable price.' Bryn Mawr Classical Review

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 André 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.

Acknowledgments
Introduction
Note on translation
Sappho
Notes
Selected bibliography.

Subject Areas: Gender studies: women [JFSJ1], Classical history / classical civilisation [HBLA1], Ancient history: to c 500 CE [HBLA], Literary studies: classical, early & medieval [DSBB], Poetry by individual poets [DCF], Poetry [DC]