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icarus_has_risen's review
fast-paced
4.0
A great collection of books, however it takes three male poets before it even gets to Sappho- whose name is used as the title. To make the argument that it is in alphabetical order is incorrect as well, as there are female poets with A names at the end of the book. You could argue it’s the most well known first, but still, Sappho’s name was used, but she was not first and placed after three men.
spacestationtrustfund's review
3.0
This is a great little compilation—not really "modern" given that it's over 30 years old now, but still an excellent introductory collection. I'm a big fan of Diane J. Rayor's translation work, and her translations of Sappho's fragments are, in my opinion, some of the best available in terms of quality. The introduction and brief biographical and contextual information scattered throughout make the entire book much better.
The poets whose work is featured include the eponymous Sappho, but also everyone from Arkhilokhos (Αρχίλοχος) and Anakreon (Ανακρέων) to Korinna (Κόριννα).
The poets whose work is featured include the eponymous Sappho, but also everyone from Arkhilokhos (Αρχίλοχος) and Anakreon (Ανακρέων) to Korinna (Κόριννα).
monicafrederickwrites's review
5.0
I loved the way Rayor explains her translation and her responsibility as a translator.
It’s hard to enjoy ancient works if you can’t trust the translator. I love that there is a full collection of Ancient Greek women poets with an excellent translator!
It’s hard to enjoy ancient works if you can’t trust the translator. I love that there is a full collection of Ancient Greek women poets with an excellent translator!
dreamsneverend's review
5.0
Simplemente increíble. Esperaba algo más básico y aunque no hay mucho material porque considerando la antigüedad de los poemas no se puede exigir demasiado, es una buena base para entrar con las poetisas de la Antigua Grecia. La idea de incluir a poetas me pareció buena pero estaba más familiarizada con su trabajo y honestamente no fue tan interesante como el descubrimiento del talento de las poetisas. Todas fueron maravillosas y ahora me veo obligada a tratar de relacionarme más con su trabajo individual. Bastante recomendables para quienes quieran empezar con la poesía griega por placer o tengan que estudiarla.
Los dejo con algo de mis favorita (después de Safo) Nossis:
1
Nothing is sweeter than love, all other riches
second: even honey I've spat from my mouth.
This Nossis says: Whomever Kypris hasn't kissed
knows nothing of her flowers, what sort of roses.
2
Stranger, if you sail to the land of lovely dances, Mitylene,
to catch fire from the blossom of Sappho's graces,
say that a friend to her and the Muses, the Lokrian land
bore me. And knowing my name is Nossis, go on!
Los dejo con algo de mis favorita (después de Safo) Nossis:
1
Nothing is sweeter than love, all other riches
second: even honey I've spat from my mouth.
This Nossis says: Whomever Kypris hasn't kissed
knows nothing of her flowers, what sort of roses.
2
Stranger, if you sail to the land of lovely dances, Mitylene,
to catch fire from the blossom of Sappho's graces,
say that a friend to her and the Muses, the Lokrian land
bore me. And knowing my name is Nossis, go on!
cheyennenajee's review
5.0
Rayor is one of my favorite translators, and I prefer her translations of Sappho's works particularly over many of the other translations I have read. They aren't as stark or literal as Carson's, and give more of a picture of what is happening in the poems, and how the words used in the poems might be used by us today, which makes it more accessible for those who are not as familiar with Sappho's works. I checked this book out from my college library simply to read the translations of Sappho and was introduced to a litany of other lyric poets as well, which I appreciated.
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