The Songs of Bilitis (Paperback)

by Pierre Louys (Author), Willy Pogany (Illustrator), Alvah C. Bessie (Translator)

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Product Description

Classic of erotic literature (1894), celebrating lesbian love, translation of original edition, complete with 161 sensuous illustrations by Willi Pogany.

Language Notes
Text: English, French (translation)

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Product Details Paperback: 192 pages Publisher: Dover Publications (June 1, 1988) Language: English ISBN-10: 0486256707 ISBN-13: 978-0486256702 Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #856,468 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

4 Reviews 5 star:  (1) 4 star:  (3) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.2 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 6 of 8 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars Literary joke becomes sensual masterpiece..., February 16, 2000 By A Customer 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. 5.0 out of 5 stars interesting book, slim, not what I thought., July 2, 2009 By  Michael D. Chlanda - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    This review is from: The Songs of Bilitis (Paperback) This is an interesting book, a slim volume, not quite what I thought (it's also partly in Greek). Worth a look. 4.0 out of 5 stars Good for Greek fen, September 24, 2005 By  L. Hale (Illinois USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    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.		Most Recent Customer Reviews 4.0 out of 5 stars great literary hoax 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... Read more Published on June 8, 2004 by I ain't no porn writer Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (June 1, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486256707
• ISBN-13: 978-0486256702
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #856,468 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Literary joke becomes sensual masterpiece..., February 16, 2000

By A Customer

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.

5.0 out of 5 stars interesting book, slim, not what I thought., July 2, 2009

By	Michael D. Chlanda - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Songs of Bilitis (Paperback)

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

4.0 out of 5 stars Good for Greek fen, September 24, 2005

By	L. Hale (Illinois USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.