Perspective

Anne Carson is a Classics Professor at the University of Michigan, who also teaches comparative literature. She is also a poet, essay writer and translator of Greek poetry. In 2000, Carson landed a MacArthur "genius grant" fellowship, indicating a sharp, creative mind. Carson was fascinated by Greek poetry and classical literature generally from an early age and has become one of masters.

Carson's mastery is clearly demonstrated in the book, both in her work as a poetry and as a philosophical analyst. Carson comes to the table clearly enamored with the classical Greek poets and philosophers. She not only illustrates their conception of love from their writings, but seems to nearly wholeheartedly endorse not only their understanding of love but a universal conception of love that extends to the present day. Carson's primary bias is arguably her disposition to regard what Greek authors claimed about love over two thousand...