The Songs of Bilitis Pierre Louys - "First published in Paris in 1894, this purports to be translations of poems by a woman named Bilitis, a contemporary and acquaintance of Sappho. This caused a sensation, not only because finding an intact cache of poems from a completely unknown Greek poet circa 600 B.C. would be a miracle, but because of its open and sensitive exploration of lesbian eroticism. Actually Bilitis never existed. The poems were a clever forgery by Pierre Louÿs--the ""translator""; to lend weight, he had even included a bibliography with bogus supporting works. Louÿs actually did have a good command of the classics, and he salted Bilitis with a number of quotations from real poets, including Sappho, to make it even more convincing.Just because this is a fake does not detract from its literary value. And just because it was written by a man did not prevent it from acquiring cultural significance for Lesbians. In fact, one of the earliest organizations of Lesbians in the United States was called the Daughters of Bilitis (although this could have been because it was a reference that would elude most people).About Author:Pierre Louÿs (December 10, 1870 June 6, 1925) was a French poet and writer, most renowned for lesbian and classical themes in some of his writings. He is known as a writer who "expressed pagan sensuality with stylistic perfection."
Since Louÿs claimed that he had translated the original poetry from Ancient Greek, this work is considered a pseudotranslation.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.
Since Louÿs claimed that he had translated the original poetry from Ancient Greek, this work is considered a pseudotranslation.The poems are in the manner of Sappho; the collection's introduction claims they were found on the walls of a ...
Aphrodite ; The Songs of Bilitis: Two Erotic Tales from the Fin de Siècle
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.
This book has been considered by academicians and scholars of great significance and value to literature.
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1904 edition. Excerpt: ...of its mother.