Reviews

Sappho by Mary Barnard, Sappho, Dudley Fitts

la_chouette's review against another edition

5.0

Sappho is one of my latest newest loves. I have been reading about her work for over a year now--both modern and nineteenth-century reviews of her work have been in my attention. I am in love with her existence, with the mystery that still surrounds her, with her lyric, sensibility and passion in her words.

I could write forever for why Sappho is amazing, but I'll leave it for you to find out on your own.

p.s. As a scholar I pick this edition. The translations are very well done, and I am planning to use this edition for referencing in my further research.

viatrix's review against another edition

4.0

She tried too hard to make the fragments complete when part of the allure of sappho is the lack of context, the general mystery that surround her fragments like looking though a thick mist

szachary's review against another edition

5.0

Outstanding!

justiceofkalr's review against another edition

3.0

I felt like the footnote to the translations at the end really should have come before the translations as it makes clear the intent of the translation. Putting it at the end just seemed odd. As for the poetry itself, it's great. It's to the point and yet so much gets packed into so few words.

annemariewellswriter's review against another edition

5.0

I love how poetry, more than two millennia old, still resonate so deeply.

44 Without warning
As a whirlwind
swoops on an oak
Love shakes my heart

59 I said, Sappho!
Enough! Why
try to move
a hard heart?

christian_mcguire's review

funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

4.0

Sappho's lyric style was quite plain and blunt, much less elegant than the other surviving lyric poets. This probably made her more striking at the time, but today she is easily the most accessible of the Greek lyric poets. She almost reminds me of Haiku with the smaller fragments. I can recommend this to anyone who likes poetry or classical antiquety.

sr_yancey's review

RIP Sappho. You would’ve loved twitter before it became a political hell hole

I think I’m actually more interested in the drama and history around Sappho and her work than the poetry itself. Don’t get me wrong, the poems are great…most of the poems are great. But there’s so much drama around the preservation (or rather censorship) and translations for her work. I think I need to find the book on that. I just have to find one that passes the vibe check and isn’t written by a crusty old man who doesn’t believe in lesbians.

eren_reads's review

emotional reflective fast-paced

4.0

I’m but a simple lesbian, I see Sappho and I enjoy it, though I do believe there are better collections of her work.

theladyhollyw's review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced

5.0

meuhggle's review

4.0

queen shit + relatable