"Next to Genesis, no book in the Hebrew Bible has had a stronger influence on Western literature than the Song of Songs." -The New York Review of Books One of the greatest love poems ever written, The Song of Songs celebrates the sexual awakening of a young woman and her lover and the intoxicating experience of falling in love. Composed more than two thousand years ago, this book of the Old Testament is not only an essential religious and literary text, but also a source of inspiration to modern-day poets and lovers. Enhanced by an Afterword by the esteemed scholar Robert Alter and a new Foreword from the noted translator Stephen Mitchell, this definitive volume showcases Chana Bloch and Ariel Bloch's sensuous translation which has "a lyrical purity that is delightful" (W. S. Merwin).
Ariel and Chana Bloch's new translation of the Song of Songs--the most sexually explicit and sensually rich book of the Bible--is pure delight from beginning to end. Its introduction is an accessible, sophisticated, entertaining, and comprehensive orientation to the literary and religious history of the Song of Songs. The Blochs say the speakers in this poem "don't suffer love, they savor it." Their translation, overflowing with full--almost to the point of florid--feeling ("Feast, friends, and drink / till you are drunk with love!"), arrives at a time when many Jews and Christians are opening themselves to the religious dimensions of sexuality and human love. Song of Songs has a great deal to teach us; this translation is sure to attract many eager students. --Michael Joseph Gross
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Gorgeous book:
You want to be scholarly and sexy all at once? Looking for the perfect book for an important anniversary or a gift for that intellectual you have your eye on? Look no further.
The very first verse sets the tone:
"Kiss me, make me drunk with your kisses!
Your sweet loving
Is better than wine."
In their introduction, the Blochs note that the woman's viewpoint predominates in this amazing collection of love poems. Most of the lines are hers and she is more forceful than her... more info
Profoundly Sensual:
How wonderful you are, O Love,
how much sweeter
than all other pleasures! But to try to quote from the Song is like hunting for a rabbit's foot. Or trying to cook only a spoonful of soup. The lovers are stoked with the such desperate passion, that no matter the circumstance, the politic, or the law, they bestow on themselves and, now, thanks to the translation, on us, a profound innocence. In that split moment before tears begin to well. Before pain is translated into reaction. Or desire... more info
Good Modern Version to Complete Older Ones:
I enjoyed the evocative language. I thought the authors did a good job of organizing the speech and assigning words to the most probable speakers...only in one or two places did I prefer the KJV arrangements. The commentary was very informative, although I respectfully disagree on a few points, as I tend to a more conservative Christian approach to the text. My view is that, while obviously singing the praises of human sexuality, you cannot avoid some sort of allegorical/symbolic approach to this book.... more info
DELICIOUSLY DISSAPOINTING..:
In all honesty i had high hopes for this book,i was mildly disapointerd at the lack of real vision.Though true to its calling (NEW TRANSLATION)it doesnt go beyond updating the song into the language of the day.I did however like the fact that they used hebrew lettering on the opposite page of the english trans, verse by verse.I would recomend this book to one who wants to speculate,disect,and tinker with the greatest love poem ever.Could have had more pictures/illustrations for readers to visualize this... more info
