Sappho's Leap: A Novel

asked by scanner on November 15, 2006 3:10 AM

"Sappho's Leap delights."—USA Today

Sappho's Leap is a journey back 2,600 years to inhabit the mind of the greatest love poet the world has ever known. At the age of fourteen, Sappho is seduced by the beautiful poet Alcaeus, plots with him to overthrow the dictator of their island, and is caught and married off to a repellent older man in hopes that matrimony will keep her out of trouble. Instead, it starts her off on a series of amorous adventures with both men and women, taking her from Delphi to Egypt, and even to the Land of the Amazons and the shadowy realm of Hades.

Erica Jong—always our keenest-eyed chronicler of the wonders and vagaries of sex and love—has found the perfect subject for a witty and sensuous tale of a passionate woman ahead of her time. A generation of readers who have been moved to laughter and recognition by Jong's heroines will be enchanted anew by her re-creation of the immortal poet.

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Reviews

This book reminded me of when I took a mythology clas back in high school. but in this book, all the gods and goddesses really came alive! Erica Jong's sense of religion is astoudning. I found myself wanting to worship Aphrodite! Also the sexuality in his book is sensual, dreamy and it removes all "sin" from bisexuality. I was not previously aware that Pagans were free to be bisexual. After reading Sappho's encounters with members of both sexes, I started to realize the bisexuality in myself, and can no longer deny it.
Read this book to have fun and open your mind!

reviewed by harrypotter on November 29, 2006 4:48 AM

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Saffo. As you have never seen her before. As a woman, a wise and a passionate soul. We have so little on Saffo that the Historical parts are more on the backbround of the historic age where she lived than on herself. A true history about her with the little things we have would not be possible. But the fiction is really very nice and this is one of my favourite books. I do reccomend this book to who likes this genre. Buy it.

reviewed by trailrider on November 29, 2006 2:32 PM

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I enjoyed reading this book, but I've definitely read better ones. The books tells the story of Sappho, the Greek poet/songstress of Lesbos. Yep, the one that inspired the word 'lesbian.' It's a biography of her life, so this is historical fiction, and it's kind of like an epic poem turned into a novel. Sometimes it came off too...intellectual? and not enough heartfelt. Like, I'd begin feeling like I was reading nonfiction instead of fiction. Other than that, it's a simple story with love, adventure, and magic, and it kept me suitably entertained, but not enthralled by any means. Go read it if you like Greek history and myth, otherwise I wouldn't recommend it.

reviewed by james58 on November 29, 2006 7:10 PM

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add a new book!