The Voices of the Song

This book offers an array of new approaches to the Song of Songs, the Bible's only love poem, which set the work more firmly in relation to its ancient context, the natural world, and theological, literary and bodily engagements, and its artistic representation. It begins with an introduction that summarises approaches to the Song, past and present. Three essays then consider it in the light of specific contexts: the polygynous Solomonic court, aspects of Hellenistic culture and ancient near eastern love poetry. The next three essays explore the Song with respect to the philosophy of plants, the Edenic garden and the integration of nature and divine and human love. Four contributions then focus upon the Song and poetics. Two more essays view the Song in the perspective, respectively, of Julia Kristeva’s reading of the Song and its interpretation in relation to a 'bodily archive.' The last essay reproduces and comments on a series of new paintings on the Song.