Why questions about the Greek poet's sexuality has overshadowed her work
Sappho is famous both for her poetry and for her sexuality. But less is known about her life on the Greek island of Lesbos, two and a half thousand years ago.
She was born into an aristocratic family and had a daughter. She later went into political exile in Sicily and later founded a famous school for young women on Lesbos . Many of her love poems are apparently addressed to those women.
Flic Everett talks to Michael Schmidt, Professor of English at Manchester Metropolitan University and author of The First Poets, which includes a section on Sappho. She also talks to Ruth Padel, a writer and poet.
The First Poets by Michael Schmidt is published by Weidenfeld and Nicholson
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