SAPPHO OF LESBOS By Margaret Goldsmith
To her biographies of Frederick the Great, John the Baptist and Florence Nightingale Miss Goldsmith now adds one of Sappho (Rich and Cowan,
os. 6d.). It is not indeed. a biography in any .pedantic sense, but "largely imaginative" and "not a dissertation written for classidal scholars." But it carries an air, if not of learning, at least of reading. • There is an impressive bibliography, and the text abounds with little-pieces of scholarship..and quotations from works so different as Suidas' Lexicon .and Hans Licht's Sexual Life in Ancient Greece. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, the meagre evidence does not allow anyone to write a scientific life of Sappho and Miss Goldsinith admitsthat hersis " largely imaginative." But 'she adds that she has deseribed Sappho's life as she is "convinced that she must -have lived it." The result is a simple tale, told in easy English and devoid of purple passages, garnished at intervals,. :withAittle . pieces of learnhig and snidions tcOrtirodliCe as much of the ancient World leitiiay be introdueed 'Withoutnopearbig4iedrinisi. LoverCof the " curious ' wilLtiot. find it to tlteir taste, despite the du'illirig description of it as Za "psychological biographY," and it: isin. no sense a vie anioureUse.
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