Overview

Song of Songs is a unique book of the Bible that has delighted its readers for centuries, while at the same time challenging artists, theologians, and translators. In this scripture, also known as Song of Solomon, physical love is described with graphic frankness; the woman's voice speaks more often than the man's; and the name of God is not mentioned even once. There is no other book of the Bible even remotely like it. Drawn from a lifetime with calligraphy, Shepherd's designs re-interpret the meaning of Song of Songs in a new way, using traditional calligraphy in fresh modern layouts. She has woven together a dozen scholarly translations to let this timeless poetry speak in today's language. Margaret Shepherd is a well-known calligrapher, teacher, and author of the classic Learn Calligraphy.

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9781640601734

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Reviews

Margaret Shepherd's Song of Songs is a book that is so beautiful, so well written, and so informative, that page after stunning page I was awestruck with delight and admiration. --Barry Moser, artist, printmaker, illustrator The Song of Songs is a passionate book of ancient poetry that has been loved and preserved by Jews and Christians for millennia. Seen in both religious communities as an expression of God's love, in a very real sense the Song has been read in Western culture as the quintessential expression of mystical relationship between God and human beings. It has been central in the shaping of the western aesthetic with regard to beauty and love. The appreciation of the beauty, desire for the other, and feelings of loss and longing when love goes unrequited are bound up in the images of this poetry. Margaret Shepherd's presentation captures this diverse set of emotions. Her rendition brings the art of its poetry into our own day. We can look at the world of love and beauty through her eyes. --Cameron Ron Afzal, Professor of Religion at Sarah Lawrence College

Margaret Shepherd's Song of Songs is a book that is so beautiful, so well written, and so informative, that page after stunning page I was awestruck with delight and admiration. --Barry Moser, artist, printmaker, illustrator The Song of Songs is a passionate book of ancient poetry that has been loved and preserved by Jews and Christians for millennia. Seen in both religious communities as an expression of God's love, in a very real sense the Song has been read in Western culture as the quintessential expression of mystical relationship between God and human beings. It has been central in the shaping of the western aesthetic with regard to beauty and love. The appreciation of the beauty, desire for the other, and feelings of loss and longing when love goes unrequited are bound up in the images of this poetry. Margaret Shepherd's presentation captures this diverse set of emotions. Her rendition brings the art of its poetry into our own day. We can look at the world of love and beauty through her eyes. --Cameron Ron Afzal, Professor of Religion at Sarah Lawrence College For Margaret Shepherd, calligraphy is a spiritual practice. Her art allows us to enter the world of young lovers in Hebrew scripture. We walk through grape arbors and navigate walled streets in search of love. We are reminded that our love for one another is sacred in God's eyes. --Sarah C. Stewart, Minister, First Unitarian Church of Worcester (MA)

Author Information

Margaret Shepherd has been a calligrapher for 45 years, in many parts of the field. At first, she fell in love with the abstract art of the page and architecture of the letters, and learned the nuts and bolts of the craft by filling in diplomas, addressing wedding invitations, and teaching beginners. Now she creates art, writes books about history and technique, and gives talks about many topics related to writing. She has also written about handwritten correspondence and spoken communication. Connecting with people through words is what matters to Margaret; pen and ink is her favorite way. Margaret lives in Boston, MA.

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