Love songs of the New Kingdom

by John L. Foster

xix + 120 pp. with 14 illus., 8vo.

Genres: Poetry, History

120 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1974

Reviews

[Joshua Henreckson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as part of my research for a term paper in a history class on the Ancient Near East. I didn't know what to expect going in, but I absolutely loved reading this collection.

Foster certainly makes the language of these poems more accessible for modern readers than other translators do. That makes these translations a bit controversial among the more conservative translators and scholars, but it helps them come alive on the page.

These poems are tender, lush, scandalous, and always interesting to read. They're also one of the best peeks we have into the fantasies and artistic sensibilities of a culture over 3,000 years in the past. That link to the past is alienating at times, discomfiting at others, but sometimes (for me at least) it reaffirmed that people haven't really changed all that much.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an avid reader of love poetry books, I will say there is a special place in my heart for many of the love poetry books I read. That being said, this one is particularly special. Being one of a handful of love poetry books translated from Ancient Egyptian this book is special to me. This book caused me to look up more translations of poetry from Ancient Egyptian. I am particularly interested in a book of love poems that has commentary and word for word translations from hieroglyphs. That is the one fault I can find in this book is that unlike the other poetry book I found, if you want want what the actual hieroglyphs translate to by exact word for word, you will not get it. You will also not get commentary on the meanings of words, phrases and gods of the time. You have to look up information on that mystery on your own. That being said, this poetry book is absolutely phenomenal, a treasure, and extremely sensual and romance filled. Being from so long ago this book lends itself being published even though it is slightly racy at times. Love it. Definitely worth the money.

[Zee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating read.

[Juniperus · Rating 4 out of 5]

People have been loving the same way for thousands of years