Inspired by a journey through Greece, Marc Chagall, one of the 20th century's most popular painters, created a wonderful series of lithographs that brought new life to this ancient Greek love story -- the first pastoral romance.
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Book Description
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 an alternate Paperback edition.
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
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"The books have great subjects--some of the most famous images in all art--and they have something new to say about them...."
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A delightful tale,
By wiredweird "wiredweird" (Earth, or somewhere nearby) - See all my reviews (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER) (TOP 500 REVIEWER)
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,
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,
By
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.
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