Named one of the 100 best nonfiction books of all time by the Modern
Library
Anne Carson's remarkable first book about the paradoxical nature of
romantic love
Since it was first published, Eros the Bittersweet, Anne Carson's
lyrical meditation on love in ancient Greek literature and philosophy,
has established itself as a favorite among an unusually broad audience,
including classicists, essayists, poets, and general readers. Beginning
with the poet Sappho's invention of the word "bittersweet" to describe
Eros, Carson's original and beautifully written book is a wide-ranging
reflection on the conflicted nature of romantic love, which is both
"miserable" and "one of the greatest pleasures we have."