Customer Reviews

The Songs of Bilitis

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No one knew sensuality like the "Sapphic" Greeks and no one knew the "Sapphic" Greeks like Pierre Louys... well at least he liked to pretend that was the case. The fact is he (or his imagination) was so completely immersed in this culture that his images/syntax/symbols were authentic enough to dupe contemporary classics scholars of his day. Bilitis could have been a protege of Sappho... a literary force in her own right.

Louys's delightful fraud first appeared in the 1890s, nearly 120 years ago at this writing. From today's vantage point, it's hard to say how this was originally taken. By today's standards, it tends toward the mild, even coy. Back then, however, it seems to have been taken as a direct piece of erotica. So, to avoid censure for originating such a scandalous work, Louys shielded himself behind the work's supposed antiquity - since, if it came down from the revered ancients of Western culture, couldn't be naughty. That charade was unmasked soon enough, giving Bilitis its proper place among Louys's other sensual writings.

This translation first appeared in 1926. Since I have not seen the French original, I can not comment on its fidelity to Louys's writing. At least one chapter ("The Object") gives reason to think that the translator might have shied from a few of the more explicit passages, however. Despite that, the general tone comes through warmly, if overly sentimental at times.

Pogany's illustrations add a pleasant note to the text. Although the cover says there are over 160 of his lithe line drawings, that ignores the fact that the pictures repeat many times. The number of unique images is far less. Too bad - the lean lines and tinges of Art Nouveau contribute to this book's charm. The same number of pictures but with more variety would have made an enjoyable read even more enjoyable. Although tame by modern standards, the text and images still have the pwer to charm readers.

-- wiredweird

This is an interesting book, a slim volume, not quite what I thought (it's also partly in Greek). Worth a look.

In the late 1890's this book was published as an ancient and recently unearthed work written by a disciple of Sappho, but it was really written by a young French erotic photographer/poet named Pierre Louys. Even the scholars of Greek antiquity and ancient Greek literature were at first duped! But despite Louys' deception, these poems are very nice, worth reading if you enjoy ancient love poetry with slight lesbian undertones.

David Rehak
author of "Poems From My Bleeding Heart"

I spent several days skimming this book. If you don't know, it was written by Pierre Louys who claimed he had found the lost works Bilitis in 1894. He perpetuated a really great literary fraud. It wasn't. He made them up. The author was referenced a couple of times in another book I read and I wanted it after reading it. The author of the book that mentioned it discussed it in the context of a person named Natalie Barney and how she should have been wondering about the fact that this gay guy was writing lesbian stuff. As such, well, very historical and I occassionally for the idea that it is classic so I shall like it! That said, it is poetry and it looks good... but honestly, not all my taste. It pretty much has that authentic Greek feel from what I remember reading but yeah. It isn't my taste in general. Well written but not my cup of tea.