The Laughter of Aphrodite: A Novel about Sappho of Lesbos (Paperback)

by Peter Green (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"We have no business to romanticize the ancient past, or to see the glory that was Greece as a history of gods and heroes, remote from us, preserved in the translucent air of ancient (proper, well-intentioned) values. In fact, of course, the Greeks were just as disgraceful as we are--and Green's persuasive Sappho makes that clear."--Mary Margaret McCabe, "Times Literary Supplement

Product Description
Scholar, historian, novelist, and professor of classics at the University of Texas (Austin), Peter Green recreates the life and times of the Greek lyric poet Sappho. The surviving fragments of Sappho's poetry reveal a mature woman of unflinching honesty. Sappho and her daily life on the island of ancient Lesbos are brought vividly to life via Green's extraordinary talent. This work was first published in 1965.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 274 pages
• Publisher: University of California Press (December 28, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0520203402
• ISBN-13: 978-0520203402
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,171,186 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars anatomy of a mid-life crisis, May 17, 2001

By	Arleen (Fayetteville, NC United States) - See all my reviews

Peter Green has created an insightful portrait of Sappho and the world in which she lived. This first person narrative is written with abundant poetic imagery -- great for giving you the feeling that Sappho is really the author, but not so great for following the storyline. Written by a reminiscing middle-aged Sappho, the plot continually shifts time frames, making it hard to keep up with what's going on. Like fragments of Sappho's poetry itself, the pieces *do* eventually come together, but only after many, many pages of frustrating reading.

One caveat: One of the back cover reviewers describes this as "an explicitly erotic modern novel," and maybe that was true when it was originally published in 1965. What sex there is is far from graphic, although it is sensual. ... .

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extraordinary approach to a fascinating character and time., January 29, 1998

By A Customer

I've been touched by this powerful novel. What amaze me most is the way Sappho's character is revealed in all her plain and complex humanity. Is not a Sappho's personal account only . Besides the novel recreates its world with such authority and ease that makes a real pleasure to read it.