Lilith: The Legend of the First Woman Revised

by Ada Langworthy Collier

Old rabbanic tradition teaches that Eve was not Adam's first wife, rather a mysterious woman named Lilith who was thrown out of Eden before Adam and Eve were. This is a lyrical telling of that legend and what happens to Lilith as she encounters various demons outside the garden and what she says and does to Adam and Eve once they too are thrown out of the Garden of Eden. Now in larger print!

Genres: Poetry, History, Ebooks, Classics, Religion, Spirituality, Paganism

56 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1885

About the author

American poet and writer

Reviews

[Joseph Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

and if I told you this was the most beautiful book of poetry ever written in America, what then?

[Aaron Meyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed what the author did with this legend of Lilith. From the humble legend comes a day by day adventure of the screech owl of the night, the deadly child killing Lilith. Her ardent desire not to succumb and be second best to Adam and her expulsion from the Garden of Eden. The wandering about to and fro to find herself on the shores of the ocean and in a land she claimed as her own. The seduction by Iblis (Satan) and their life together, and how she came to be known as the first vampire, the thief of children from their cribs, so that she may sate her bloody desire upon them and take pleasure of the wailings of the mothers she hurt.
The book is poetical in nature and such liberties have been taken for the story to be what it is all fleshed out. Enjoy it for what it is. I will read it again I am sure.

[Dev · Rating 4 out of 5]

actual rating: 3.5

Really interesting take on the story of Lilith including some interactions with Lucifer, Adam, and Eve. The language is a little bit too flowery for me which makes it harder to parse at times but it's a fairly short read and I liked a lot of the individual scenes. Definitely something I would recommend if you like Biblical retellings or are looking to read more classics by/about women.

[Justin Beeh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read and some neat elements on the story of Lilith. The language was to flowery for me and I was not really able to enjoy the act of reading it.

[Favour · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is for people who adore and obsess over poetry. People who have a love for the beauty of poems and rhymes that tell historical fictional stories would appreciate this book. Now I’m not saying this book is fictional because we do not actually know if Eve was the first woman God created. There’s no plot and it’s not like narrating a story. This book consists of poem after poem. If you are Christian you may not like this book at all because of the idea that the Adam and Eve story may not be what you thought it to be. Also, with my little understanding of poetry, it only spoke of Lilith’s beauty and love. It even spoke a little about sex in code terms. But it didn’t actually make sense or amount to my expectations. I expected this book to give me religious and spiritual insight about if there was truly another woman made other than Eve but the book is for people who understand difficult poetry which unfortunately, I didn’t understand.

[Bruce · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a poem that creates a story around the traditional character Lilith, the first women. I don't know the basis of this poem; was it a vision, or was it a fantasy?

[Jo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reissue of a 19th century poem about Lilith, the first woman. It was okay but poetry isn't my thing really.

[Steve Cran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Considering that this book was a free download it is not too shabby. The book is written in poet form taking bits and pieces from Islamic, Jewish and Christian lore. Lilith is not seen as someone evil the way many early monotheists saw her but she is viewed rather as a person who is highly intelligent and highly able to love. THe author does not bother to explore any of the Sumerian origins of Lilith which is where the Jews caught wind of her. I did learn one thing. That a lullaby is meant to keep Lilith away.

The poem which is divided into books starts off with Adam and Lilith in the Garden of Eden. Lilth feels that since they both were created on the same day and same way that both should hold equal power in the Garden. Adam who has a leopard crouching at his feet does not agree. He feels he should have the power. Lilth gets no recourse so she decides to flee Paradise and explore the wide world. The angel guarding the gate tries in veign to disuade her but to no avail. Lilth wander over the Earth exploring the wild and vast landscape.It is in this wilderness that spies the wild life and the jungles. After a while of mingling with the animals shje decides to return to paradise. At the gates of paradise she is confronted by none other then Eblis himself. He is the Arabic term for Lucifer. He guides Lilith aroud and shows her his world. She is taken in by all the beauty and gifts he bestows upon her. She marries Eblis. After a while they have several children who are described as Elven, goblins and winged. They fly away from her shortly after they are born. Sorrow grips her heart as she longs for motherhood, Eblis tries offering comfort, but to no avail. Lilith finds her way back to paradise, now someone has taken her place, that person is Eve. Lilith is engraged. In aanger she steals Eve's daughter and returns her only upon the child's death.

In jewish lore Lilith was Adam's first wife. She left because she would not take the submissive position during their love making but insisted on being on top. While in the desert she copulates with animals and produces demonic offspring. God sends three angels begging her to return home lest they kill her demonic offspring. She refuses but agrees not to kill children wearing amulets containing the name of three angels. he is now a child killer. Islamic legend has her living in Damascus with Eblis.

[Mawgojzeta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunningly beautiful epic poem. I will read and re-read many times in the future.

[Susan Alvarado · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not too bad. Written in poetic form, it's a story of Lilith's life. Quite flowery at times, but quite beautiful :(

[Kattie Compton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shakespeare type writings

While I enjoy the literature it is not the educational book I had expected. In very disappointed as I've learned nothing.

[Krista · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to admit I enjoyed the brief history of the Lilith myth that preceded the poem more than I enjoyed the poem itself. In this long narrative poem, Lilith leaves an unsatisfied Adam in Eden and ventures into the wider world where she meets a fallen angel. Their offspring are likened to mischievous elfin children, pranksters who play tricks on future mortals. Worse, these creatures refuse Lilith's maternal overtures of love and affection, effectively breaking her heart.

The poem takes a great deal liberty with the story of creation. The forbidden fruit that Eve enjoys is not an apple but the birth of a child. It is the loss of this child that chases Adam and Eve from Eden.

The majority of the poem follows Lilith's story as it intersects with Adam and Eve. Then, strangely, the narrative changes to a lullaby warning the children of the world of Lilith's nefarious intent.