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Sappho: A New Rendering
Sappho lived in the Greek-speaking Aeolian islands off the coast of Turkey. She is one of the very few female poets from antiquity. Although her work was very popular in ancient Greece and Rome, only small fragments survive today. This book includes translations of these fragments, as well as a poem from Ovid's Heroides, "Sappho to Phaon," a fictional letter from Sappho to her assumed lover. (Summary by Libby Gohn)
First published January 9, 2013
About the author
Sappho
309 books2,034 followersWork of Greek lyric poet Sappho, noted for its passionate and erotic celebration of the beauty of young women and men, after flourit circa 600 BC and survives only in fragments.
Ancient history poetry texts associate Sappho (Σαπφώ or Ψάπφω) sometimes with the city of Mytilene or suppose her birth in Eresos, another city, sometime between 630 BC and 612 BC. She died around 570 BC. People throughout antiquity well knew and greatly admired the bulk, now lost, but her immense reputation endured.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sappho
Ancient history poetry texts associate Sappho (Σαπφώ or Ψάπφω) sometimes with the city of Mytilene or suppose her birth in Eresos, another city, sometime between 630 BC and 612 BC. She died around 570 BC. People throughout antiquity well knew and greatly admired the bulk, now lost, but her immense reputation endured.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sappho
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
October 26, 2016
"“What cannot be said will be wept"
It is a shame that most of her poetry is lost and only fragments quoted by her later fans have survived. The value of whole poem must have been far more than the parts, as it is, it is the longer parts I liked more.
I can also see why her fans believe that loss of poems is a result of willful destruction by some state or church of her own time or after her times, trying to silence a popular rebel against patriarchy. This is available on librivox:
https://librivox.org/sappho-a-new-ren...
It should be considered some kind of blasphemy to compare her (or Homer) with Dylan. I dont think anyone fifty years from now will remember Dylan, while she is still remembered even after centuries of empires hostile to her ideas.
“someone will remember us
I say
even in another time”
October 4, 2017
Loved Sapho's poems, and the translation. Wasn't a fan of Ovid's interpretation of her though. Leave it to a man in an ancient patriarchal society to describe a woman's passions. 😐 *ahem* It felt off. Anyway, I may read another version of Sapho's poetry *without* later additions by men, because I am super fascinated by her and her writing.
February 9, 2017
These are literally just fragments of what must have been a large corpus of work by a respected poet of Ancient Greece. It is a pity this is all that has survived because you get a glimpse of how great her poetry was. Many of these (the ones i like the most) are simply really good love poems, the kind that make you feel both the joy of love fulfilled and the pain, yearning and regret of love unattained, and they were written over 2500 years ago! You can read this whole book in about 1 hour straight, but if you have to choose a few to read I recommend "Ode to Anactoria", "Goodness" and "Alcaeus and Sappho".
March 23, 2020
#ReadHarder2020 Task #8: Audiobook of poetry
I decided to finally read the original lesbian classic, Sappho's poems, for this task. I had heard individual poem fragments by her before but never a full collection. I loved everything about this, especially Yau's narration. It really felt like a window into the life of a woman so chronologically distant from our time, but you felt close from reading -- or in this case, hearing -- her emotions on this page. This is my first Audible audiobook, but I think this is how I want to consider experiencing poetry from now on. Of course, now I'd also like to get the written version and take my time appreciating Sappho's words.
I decided to finally read the original lesbian classic, Sappho's poems, for this task. I had heard individual poem fragments by her before but never a full collection. I loved everything about this, especially Yau's narration. It really felt like a window into the life of a woman so chronologically distant from our time, but you felt close from reading -- or in this case, hearing -- her emotions on this page. This is my first Audible audiobook, but I think this is how I want to consider experiencing poetry from now on. Of course, now I'd also like to get the written version and take my time appreciating Sappho's words.
August 9, 2021
eh, didn’t love the narration, so i’m gonna read my physical edition afterwards and see if my opinions change. don’t think it’s the best translation of sappho though.
August 9, 2021
loved the translation, hated the biography
June 17, 2017
3 stars (liked it)
A narrow glimpse into the poetry and thoughts of one of very few female poets from Antiquity from a translation of some of her limited and remaining poetry fragments. I found it interesting to see the writing of a woman who is believed to have been born back in 600 B.C. Based on my introduction to her in this short work, I am interested in reading a longer book with more of her poetry fragments called If Not, Winter: Fragments of Sappho.
A narrow glimpse into the poetry and thoughts of one of very few female poets from Antiquity from a translation of some of her limited and remaining poetry fragments. I found it interesting to see the writing of a woman who is believed to have been born back in 600 B.C. Based on my introduction to her in this short work, I am interested in reading a longer book with more of her poetry fragments called If Not, Winter: Fragments of Sappho.
May 23, 2022
I enjoyed reading this translation, but (and I’m not sure if I’m right or wrong here because I don’t know much about translating) it looks to me like a lot of creative liberties were taken to make the fragments rhyme.
Favorite fragments from this translation: IV (I Loved Thee), XV (Grace), XVI (As on the Hills), XXVI (The Altar), XXXI (Friend), XXXVII (Anger), XL (The Captive), LII (Regret), LIII (Fragment)
Favorite fragments from this translation: IV (I Loved Thee), XV (Grace), XVI (As on the Hills), XXVI (The Altar), XXXI (Friend), XXXVII (Anger), XL (The Captive), LII (Regret), LIII (Fragment)
July 17, 2019
I always feel kind of weird rating the classics. Who the heck am I to do that?
So, I'm more rating the reading, which was nicely and clearly done. The earlier sections have a bit of noise that later disappears, I imagine a different microphone was used or whatnot.
But overall, I like the recording, and greatly appreciate efforts to bring the classics to modern ears. Thank you, Libby!
So, I'm more rating the reading, which was nicely and clearly done. The earlier sections have a bit of noise that later disappears, I imagine a different microphone was used or whatnot.
But overall, I like the recording, and greatly appreciate efforts to bring the classics to modern ears. Thank you, Libby!
August 16, 2021
after listening immidiately started listening again from the begining. "Sappho" is a word I have heard in places but had no idea what it reered to other than a large associations with lesbians. now after listening I can't help but just feel waves of love and longing in each fragment. "beauty or her wisdom" is very very acurate.
I found it quite easy to follow, highly recomend
I found it quite easy to follow, highly recomend
June 4, 2021
If I had a time machine...
...but since I don't, I'll listen to fragments of Sappho's works and scribble me own poems inspired by hers. I'd like to get a full collection in print, for reference - audiobook isn't ideal for this kind of collection, I think.
...but since I don't, I'll listen to fragments of Sappho's works and scribble me own poems inspired by hers. I'd like to get a full collection in print, for reference - audiobook isn't ideal for this kind of collection, I think.
March 11, 2024
I’m not sure of the strength of this audiobook as a translation, though it definitely keeps the lyrical quality of Sappho’s writing.
It also really hits home how little we have - the audiobook is only about 30 minutes! And that’s including the addition from Ovid, which was a surprise bonus
It also really hits home how little we have - the audiobook is only about 30 minutes! And that’s including the addition from Ovid, which was a surprise bonus
December 5, 2018
EXTRAORDINARY
December 27, 2019
Not quite what I expected tbh.
May 17, 2020
Fragments is right. 😢
April 8, 2019
Cor, blimey.
That's not a raunchy cor blimey, that's a 'Why haven't I read or listened to this before?' cor blimey.
Seems of course a tragedy that what's left of Sappho's works is mostly fragmentary, and the intoduction to de Vere Stacpoole's New Rendering ponders that 'perhaps some god has draped Sappho's work in the mystery of scarcity,' the argument running that were there more of it, she'd cease to be as sought after, as mysterious, and as well-regarded as she is.
That's obviously a fanciful invention to make the best of a bad situation, but having now heard what there is of her work, I'm not sure even the rationale stands up. What exists of it is rich, and clever, and witty, and en pointe in both its observational clarity and its emotional impact. I'm not sure 'there being more of it' would in any way have dimmed its brilliance, or the appeal to the audience with which it has most intimately connected and to whom it has most intimately spoken over the millennia. Sappho spoke a lot to women, and to a female experience, and specifically in some cases to a lesbian experience (it's beyond facile to point out of course that it's from her that we derive the word 'Sapphic'). There's a vivacity to her eye in some poems and fragments, certainly, that feels young, but there are also experiences here - pining after beautiful girls, while living in a society where in all probability there would go on to be married to men - which would have reached out over the intervening centuries to anyone who found themselves still trapped in such societies, so she would absolutely have been a secret beacon to their poetic souls, whether there were merely fragments of her work left or books and books of it, calling out to them that someone understood what they felt and what they were going through. Her poem on maidenhood feels like the ancient world's version of a familiar experience for many young women even today, a yell of regret at a 'maidnehood' lost, and a determination never to do THAT again.
There are scraps of observation here too that are gorgeously constructed in their epigrammatic weight, giving her a claim to be the Dorothy Parker of the ancient world -
Death is evil, for the gods do favour breath.
Had death been good, the gods would favour death.
And there are moments of musical beauty, such has her description of the rustling of leaves in an orchard, that make you stop whatever you're doing, and take you there, giving you that moment of escape from all the real world that is poetry's gift.
There's less than 40 minutes of Sappho left to us in this impoverished age (it appears to be widely believed that much of her work was destroyed by early Christians in a fit of scandalised morality - thanks for that, guys). Give yourself a little self-care and find yourself some Sappho. She's still better than a lot of the real world today.
That's not a raunchy cor blimey, that's a 'Why haven't I read or listened to this before?' cor blimey.
Seems of course a tragedy that what's left of Sappho's works is mostly fragmentary, and the intoduction to de Vere Stacpoole's New Rendering ponders that 'perhaps some god has draped Sappho's work in the mystery of scarcity,' the argument running that were there more of it, she'd cease to be as sought after, as mysterious, and as well-regarded as she is.
That's obviously a fanciful invention to make the best of a bad situation, but having now heard what there is of her work, I'm not sure even the rationale stands up. What exists of it is rich, and clever, and witty, and en pointe in both its observational clarity and its emotional impact. I'm not sure 'there being more of it' would in any way have dimmed its brilliance, or the appeal to the audience with which it has most intimately connected and to whom it has most intimately spoken over the millennia. Sappho spoke a lot to women, and to a female experience, and specifically in some cases to a lesbian experience (it's beyond facile to point out of course that it's from her that we derive the word 'Sapphic'). There's a vivacity to her eye in some poems and fragments, certainly, that feels young, but there are also experiences here - pining after beautiful girls, while living in a society where in all probability there would go on to be married to men - which would have reached out over the intervening centuries to anyone who found themselves still trapped in such societies, so she would absolutely have been a secret beacon to their poetic souls, whether there were merely fragments of her work left or books and books of it, calling out to them that someone understood what they felt and what they were going through. Her poem on maidenhood feels like the ancient world's version of a familiar experience for many young women even today, a yell of regret at a 'maidnehood' lost, and a determination never to do THAT again.
There are scraps of observation here too that are gorgeously constructed in their epigrammatic weight, giving her a claim to be the Dorothy Parker of the ancient world -
Death is evil, for the gods do favour breath.
Had death been good, the gods would favour death.
And there are moments of musical beauty, such has her description of the rustling of leaves in an orchard, that make you stop whatever you're doing, and take you there, giving you that moment of escape from all the real world that is poetry's gift.
There's less than 40 minutes of Sappho left to us in this impoverished age (it appears to be widely believed that much of her work was destroyed by early Christians in a fit of scandalised morality - thanks for that, guys). Give yourself a little self-care and find yourself some Sappho. She's still better than a lot of the real world today.
September 7, 2017
"This book is essentially all poetry."
It was ok, just not a good fit for me.
The narrator was good. There were good expressions and emphasis of sounds and words. I had a poetry section in my theatre class and it is a lot harder than you might think. You have little amounts of words to create something spectacular.
This title is from ancient Greece and Rome time-frame in history so the phrasing is of that era, which tends to grate on my senses after a time.
Overall I give this 3 of 5 stars!
Audiobook obtained for free at my request and I am voluntarily leaving this unbiased review.
More Reviews @ AudiobookRomance.com
January 14, 2022
i don't know why, as someone who repeatedly says they don't like poetry, decided to read not one, but three poetry books today (this one being the third). though I have to say, i enjoyed this one the most. even though most of the poems in this are fragments of fuller poems since lost to time, the power and emotion that still holds strong is beautiful and impressive. sappho is one powerful and magical lesbian *wink wink*
September 25, 2015
This book is a TERRIBLE rendition on Sappho's works. In fact, it looks like the OCR missed/transformed a lot of words/letters, making a lot of it unreadable. I suggest downloading an example first before buying any edition of this to make sure you are getting a true, pure, well edited version of this book.
Two stars.
Two stars.
October 9, 2021
I cannot believe this is just a fragment. JUST A FRAGMENT!!!!!
We got to see a glimpse of such immaculate work!! This is by far the best I've read and it's only so little of what she put out to the world.
There are scraps of observation here that are gorgeously constructed. AAAAAA. I have no words to describe thisssss!!!
JUST EXTRAORDINARYY!!
We got to see a glimpse of such immaculate work!! This is by far the best I've read and it's only so little of what she put out to the world.
There are scraps of observation here that are gorgeously constructed. AAAAAA. I have no words to describe thisssss!!!
JUST EXTRAORDINARYY!!
January 7, 2025
I am absolutely and completely enraptured by Sappho’s poetry. No words can describe how it touches my heart and soul.
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September 19, 2025لا يمكنني تقييم هذا الكتاب بإنصاف لأني استمتعت له ككتاب صوتي، وكنت اتشتت في كل مرة، فأعيد أجزاء من الكتاب. أعتقد بأني سأهضم القصائد في هيئتها المقروءة بشكل أفضل. وعلى العموم شعر صافو عذب.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews