Women in Praise of the Sacred

by Jane Hirshfield

Book Overview

"Hirshfield's current collection brings together . . . an astonishing array of women writers from the 22nd century BC poet Enheduanna to Nelly Sachs and Anna Akhmatova."-- Library Journal

"Destined to become a classic. . . . An anthology of women's spirituality on this scale has never been attempted before and I cannot imagine it being better done." -- Andrew Harvey

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060925760
• ISBN13: 9780060925765
• Release Date: January 1995
• Publisher: Harper Perennial
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.62 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Women Can Praise Each Other

When I was doing research for my book, Infamous Eve, A History, I found the translation of The Hymn to Inanna done by Jane Hirshfield to be the best to be found. May Sinclair

Wow!

This is the first anthology I got years ago that made me say, Wow! Includes Sappho, Rabia, Yeshe Tsogyel, Hildegard of Bingen, Mechthild of Magdeburg, Hadewijch of Antwerp, Lal Ded, Mirabai, Bibi Hayati, Tsvetaeva. The best collection I've found of women's voices in sacred poetry.

perfect for sca and other medeval bardics

This has dozons of great short bardics for arts compentions. It also gives a nice start on documentation for periodness.Highly recomended for any Medieval Lady for her bardic entry. It does go out of peroid on ether end, but still a great find.Vittoria duSolie deLeoncouer, Caer Derwyth, (HMR)

Profound understanding of mysticism

An amazing book, of value to poets, mystics, seekers, feminists... Not only is the poetry astounding and breathtaking, but the editor Hirshfield displays a profound understanding of the similarities and differences among the mystical traditions of different cultures and religions. Her introductory essays on the poets she anthologized are worth the price of the book all by themselves.Highly recommended.

A great way to become familiar with poets all periods !

I love this book for a number of reasons. Firstly, a short biography preceeds each set of poems. This lends backround to the art and the effect of such is dramatic and important. Context is everything. Secondly, the selections are awesome and seem to translate well into English. Lastly, a portrait is painted of women *over time* experiencing the many different ways of relating to spirit, from longing to ecstacy to regret. This is one of my all-time favorite books. Even if you have no previous interest in poetry but do in women's spirituality, invest in this one. You won't be disappointed.