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Les chansons de Bilitis / Pervigilium…
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Les chansons de Bilitis / Pervigilium Mortis, avec divers textes inédits (original 1894; edition 1997)

by Pierre Louÿs, Jean-Paul Goujon (Editor)

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286492,091 (3.79)18
These passionate verses were published in 1894 as the lost works of a disciple of Sappho. Although debunked as a work of antiquity, they remain an erotic celebration of sexual freedom. This hardcover edition features a translation from the original French edition, annotations, and more than 160 sensual illustrations by Willy Pogány. Contains adult material.… (more)
Member:erathostenes
Title:Les chansons de Bilitis / Pervigilium Mortis, avec divers textes inédits
Authors:Pierre Louÿs
Other authors:Jean-Paul Goujon (Editor)
Info:Paris, Gallimard
Collections:Your library
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The Songs of Bilitis by Pierre Louÿs (1894)

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» See also 18 mentions

Showing 3 of 3
My version has the Willy Pogány illustrations and is translated by Alvah C. Bessie.
I’ve been aware of this and meaning to read it for decades. I really don’t know from where—I seem to remember it occasionally cropping up in vague references or allusions. I had no real idea what it was about, but it seemed to be something that some knowledgeable and respected writers had read, and I had vague ideas of eroticism and there were some misty and not really remembered connections with Anaïs Nin and James Joyce in the junk rooms of my memory. So I read it.
I have to admit that I started it with a certain amount of prejudice, knowing that Louÿs had created a, so to speak, forgery. To my surprise, though, I found the character, Bilitis, quite easy to believe in. Once I got my head away from expecting her to be a genuine ancient Greek, I found her story intriguing and, often, quite moving. I’m writing as a male, of course, and very aware that the words were actually written (and translated) by a male and I do wonder if a female would find her voice so genuine, but I really felt for her depictions of unrequited love and of growing old and losing her looks. Time has robbed the erotic bits of any shock value they may have had but I found them reasonably convincing and wasn’t overly aware of them as simply male-gaze titillation.
I thought it quite good and I am glad to have finally read it (though it will always be a minor niggle with me that a male wrote it—don’t really know how to get my head around that). ( )
  alaudacorax | Dec 9, 2022 |
Being erotic prose poems with atmospheric illustration. The writing is lovely and appealing; the illustrations have a period feel which is evocative of Beardsley's line drawing without the grotesque undertones. ( )
  Big_Bang_Gorilla | Apr 19, 2011 |
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» Add other authors (13 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Pierre Louÿsprimary authorall editionscalculated
Louÿs, Pierremain authorall editionsconfirmed
Bessie, Alvah C.Translatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Buck, Mitchell S.Translatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
NotorIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Pogány, WillyIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Ridge, George RossIntroductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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Information from the French Common Knowledge. Edit to localize it to your language.
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Information from the French Common Knowledge. Edit to localize it to your language.
Ce petit livre d'amour antique
est dédié respectueusement
aux jeunes filles de la société future.
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Information from the French Common Knowledge. Edit to localize it to your language.
Bilitis naquit au commencement du sixième siècle avant notre ère, dans un village de montagnes situé sur les bords du Mélas, vers l’orient de la Pamphylie. Ce pays est grave et triste, assombri par des forêts profondes, dominé par la masse énorme du Taurus ; des sources pétrifiantes sortent de la roche ; de grands lacs salés séjournent sur les hauteurs, et les vallées sont pleines de silence.

Elle était fille d’un Grec et d’une Phénicienne. Elle semble n’avoir pas connu son père, car il n’est mêlé nulle part aux souvenirs de son enfance. Peut-être même était-il mort avant qu’elle ne vînt au monde. Autrement on s’expliquerait mal comment elle porte un nom phénicien que sa mère seule lui put donner.
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These passionate verses were published in 1894 as the lost works of a disciple of Sappho. Although debunked as a work of antiquity, they remain an erotic celebration of sexual freedom. This hardcover edition features a translation from the original French edition, annotations, and more than 160 sensual illustrations by Willy Pogány. Contains adult material.

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