Marc Chagall: Daphins and Chloe (Pegasus Library) [Hardcover]

Marc Chagall (Author), Longus (Author)

Book Description

Series: Pegasus Library | Publication Date: May 1994

In 1831 Goethe called Daphnis and Chloe 'a masterpiece ... in which Understanding, Art, and Taste appear at their highest point, and beside which the good Virgil retreats somewhat into the background ... One would do well to read it every year, to be instructed by it again and again, and to receive anew the impression of its great beauty. 'Touching yet humorous, naive and at the same time highly sophisticated, Daphnis and Chloe is the story of a shepherd boy and girl who fall desperately in love yet find themselves facing great obstacles, because in their passion they behave, as the author says, even more awkwardly 'than rams and ewes.'. This sole surviving bucolic novel of ancient Greek origin was written by Longus, a poet about whom nothing else is known, and dates to about the mid third century A.D. The lyrical beauty and sensual frankness of the story have found admirers from Shakespeare to Jacob Burckhardt, and have exerted lasting influence on European literature. It was not until 1810 that the first complete manuscript of Daphnis and Chloe was discovered, in Florence. This provided the basis for the present, superb translation, done in 1956 by Paul Turner. Marc Chagall's illustrations to the pastoral tale, which is set on the island of Lesbos, were inspired by his first-hand experience of Greece. His lithographs combine the Mediterranean lushness of the realm of Pan and Eros with memories of Russian Jewish folktales, and celebrate the lovers in a setting whose marvels of colour evoke Eden with a sumptuousness that is inimitably Chagall. Art of the highest order united with poetry of timeless appeal - the result is an irresistibly delightful book.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

An ancient Greek love story written by the poet Longus, Daphnis and Chloe is set on the island of Lesbos, where two foundlings are raised with care and find great joy in nature and their simple lives as shepherds. Absolute innocents, young Daphnis and Chloe fall in love, but they don't know what love is. As they puzzle over their curious predicament, their beauty attracts would-be seducers and scheming suitors, and their happiness is threatened on all fronts. As their guardians confer and nymphs and gods get involved, Longus weaves a pastoral romance radiant with the beauty of nature and the nature of innocence. This indelible, sweetly humorous, and sensuous pastoral tale has inspired Western writers, composers, and artists for centuries, and no story is more aptly suited to the mythic and erotic sensibility of Marc Chagall, who illustrated Longus' timeless masterpiece with 42 exquisite lithographs. Dreamily atmospheric, sinuously graceful, jewel-like in hue, infused with magic, these are works of buoyant beauty gorgeously reproduced in this little gem of a book. Donna Seaman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Review

"The books have great subjects and something new to say.

The volumes are a delight to hold with their fine paper and ingenious illustrations." -- The New York Times Book Review

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 152 pages
• Publisher: Prestel (May 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3791313738
• ISBN-13: 978-3791313733
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.7 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,225,846 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A delightful tale, January 31, 2004

By 

wiredweird "wiredweird" (Earth, or somewhere nearby) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Marc Chagall: Daphnis and Chloe (Pegasus Library) (Paperback)

The story dates from classical Greece. After two thousand years, the story is still fresh and charming - the sign of a true classic. It's about young love, eager and inept, with gods, pirates, and other harmless excitement. The writer included the happy fumblings of physical affection that a modern author would have shied from, sweet and not at all salacious. The story finishes with an improbable and triumphantly happy ending. Good happy fun, and not a lengthy read.

Beyond the story itself, I found this book very informative. The story is supposedly one that Shakespeare read, and it shows. Some of the Bard's endings look a bit recycled once you've read Daphnis and Chloe. I also found that it explained Marc Chagall's cycle of lithographs - the images make more sense, now that I've seen their inspiration. In addition, there's satisfaction in knowing that this story, with such influence on such great minds, and is now a part of my education, too.

All that was extra reward, though. I wanted the book because Chagall's illustration. It's there, in dozens of beautiful color reproductions, including some two-page spreads. Up til now, Marc Chagall has always been in the lower ranks among my favorite artists. After seeing his work in this book, I have a new respect for it. He's still not among my very favorites, but I enjoy the lithos shown here. Even more, I enjoy them as a coherent body visual work and as a narrative.

Best, though, is quality of this book for its price. It's well printed on heavy stock, and the color printing is strong and nuanced. The production values in the color pages and the sheer number of them are quite astonishing for a book that costs so little. I plan to enjoy this book for a long time.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Erotic, tender, and romantic ancient tale with incredible illustrations by Marc Chagall, August 25, 2006

By 

Galina (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Daphnis and Chloe (Paperback)

"Daphnis and Chloe" is one of the best known early Greek romances, precursors to the modern novel. Admired by Goethe, it has been reinterpreted in music and art by Ravel and Chagall.
Written by Longus in the second century A.D, it is a classical romance involving the adventures of two foundling children raised by adopted parents who are humble shepherds in the idyllic setting of the Isle of Lesbos. It is a famous love story that captures the awakening of a first love between two teenagers who don't know what is happening to them. The novel that is written almost two thousands years ago is surprisingly modern; it is erotic, tender, romantic, sensual, and simply beautiful. When I read it first time many years ago (I was very much into the ancient art, literature, history, and philosophy), I asked myself why the literature and art did not stop right there and then - nothing better could be possibly done. It is not true, of course but it was one of the rare moments that you'd like to capture and cherish forever. Last month while visiting the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, I bought a miniature book that includes a suite of 42 Lithographs created by Marc Chagall (1887-1985) to illustrate "Daphnis and Chloe". Chagall's visual interpretation of the Greek pastoral romance of the 2nd (or 3rd) century AD is unique and unforgettable. Even if you don't like Chagall's style, you will not be able to forget it. With his 42 Lithographs, Chagall created a monument to both, Longus and himself. "Daphnis and Chloe" is known as one of the great illustrated books of our time.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent condition, great price, February 22, 2009

By 

Nick T. Backes (Akron, OH) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Daphnis and Chloe (Paperback)

The book is in fantastic condition for an excellent price, delivered in a timely fashion, thank you.