Sappho: Memoir, text, selected renderings, and a literal translation

About this book

"Sappho: Memoir, text, selected renderings, and a literal translation" by Henry Thornton Wharton is a literary compilation created in the late 19th century. This work serves two primary purposes: to provide an extensive memoir of Sappho, the renowned Greek poetess, and to present her surviving fragments in both their original Greek and English translation. The text highlights Sappho's significant impact on lyric poetry, as well as Wharton's effort to make her work accessible to English readers, regardless of their familiarity with the Greek language. The opening of this volume includes multiple prefaces that outline Wharton's intent and the challenges faced in translating Sappho's lyrical works. Wharton laments the limited number of Sappho's verses that have survived through history and expresses a desire to familiarize readers with every known fragment of her poetry. He recounts the extensive literature and scholarly efforts dedicated to Sappho since his original introduction of her works to English readers in the mid-19th century. Additionally, Wharton discusses the complexities and subtleties of Sappho's art, emphasizing her mastery of the emotive quality in her poetry, which resonates through the centuries.