Mary Barnard was a notable American poet and translator whose work often drew upon classical Greek mythology and literature. Her poems are distinguished by their precise language and deep exploration of themes of time, identity, and the female experience. Barnard gained recognition for her translations of ancient texts and original poetry collections, earning her critical acclaim. Her writing represents a unique fusion of ancient tradition and modern poetic sensibility.
These hundred poems and fragments constitute virtually all of Sappho that survives and effectively bring to life the woman whom the Greeks consider to be their greatest lyric poet. Mary Barnard's translations are lean, incisive, direct—the best ever published. She has rendered the beloved poet's verses, long the bane of translators, more authentically than anyone else in English.