# The songs of Bilitis

By Pierre Louÿs.

"The Songs of Bilitis: Translated from the Greek" by Pierre Louÿs is a collection of erotic poetry published in 1894. Louÿs presented these lesbian love poems as ancient Greek works by Bilitis, a courtesan and contemporary of Sappho, complete with fabricated scholarly apparatus including a fictional archaeologist's discovery. The pseudotranslation initially deceived experts before being exposed as Louÿs's original creation. The poems trace three phases of life—from childhood innocence through passionate same-sex love to melancholy reflection—blending sensuality with classical style while openly celebrating lesbian sexuality. (Summary by Project Gutenberg, written by machine.)

- Language: English
- Translator: Mitchell S. Buck
- Subjects: French poetry -- Translations into English; Lesbians -- Poetry

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From Project Gutenberg. Public domain in the United States.