Shipwreck Sea: Love Poems and Essays in a Classical Mode

Sappho was the greatest poet who ever lived, according to poet Algernon Charles Swinburne (1837–1909). Her poetry and life showed both masculine and feminine traits. The Shipwreck Sea is a collection of Greek lyric poets' love poetry, with verse translations into English by Jeffrey Duban, as well as selected Latin poets and poems by Charles Baudelaire. Duban's essays include a comprehensive analysis of Horaces Odes 1.5 and an opening treatise-length argument on the irrelevance of gender to artistic creation. Twenty full-color artwork reproductions illustrate and bring Duban's argument to life.

Format: Hardback
Length: 380 pages
Publication date: 28 January 2019
Publisher: Clairview Books

Sappho, as described by poet Algernon Charles Swinburne (1837–1909), holds a remarkable place in the annals of poetry. Born on the Greek island of Lesbos more than 2,600 years ago, Sappho, the eponymous lesbian, expressed her love for both men and women, showcasing a blend of masculine and feminine qualities in her poetry and life. The remnants of her writing, along with the limited knowledge we possess about her, remain fragmented, perpetually inviting speculation and scholarly exploration. The Shipwreck Sea showcases the captivating love poetry of Sappho, Ibycus, and Anacreon, among other Greek lyric poets of the 7th to 5th centuries BC. Author Jeffrey Duban has provided English verse translations for these works. Additionally, the book includes selected Latin poets who delved into erotic themes, such as Catullus, Lucretius, Horace, and Petronius, as well as poems by Charles Baudelaire, including his renowned response to lesbian love ("Lesbos") and a poignant turn to the consoling power of memory in the recollection of loves often plagued by torment ("Le Balcon"). Duban also translates selected Carmina Burana of Carl Orff, with its Anacreontic spirit. The book's essays encompass a comprehensive analysis, accompanied by a fresh translation of Horace's renowned Odes 1.5 (known as "To Pyrrha"), which prominently explores the theme of love's shipwreck. Furthermore, an opening treatise-length argument explores the irrelevance of gender to artistic creation across various Western art forms. Twenty full-color artwork reproductions, each a masterpiece in its own right, vividly illustrate and reinforce Duban's arguments. Lastly, Duban presents a selection of his own love poems, imitations, and pastiches, crafted over a lifetime.

Weight: 730g
Dimension: 244 x 167 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781912992003