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![]() | Girl Meets Boy (2007) The Myth of Iphis (The eighth book in the Myths series) A novel by Ali Smith |
| "Ali Smith is a true original." Joyce Carol Oates |
Another internationally acclaimed writer contributes a fascinating, compelling reinterpretation of a myth that resonates deeply today.
Ligdus and Telethusa are having a child, but they cannot afford to have a girl. Ligdus informs Telethusa that she had better hope for a boy. While this decision makes them both sad, Telethusa "must/obey." She prays to Isis, but births a girl and names her Iphis, a name that "suited male or female-/a neutral name." She convinces everyone, including Ligdus, that Iphis is a boy.
Iphis matures and falls in love with another girl, Ianthe, and is engaged for marriage, yet s/he is ruled by the sexual norms of the time: "[P]ossessed by love so strange . . . no female wants/a female!" but "no learned art-can ever make of me/a boy." She attempts to reconcile her love for Ianthe against the pressures of "nature." The wedding day is near, Telethusa is desperate, and prays again to Isis. Iphis is transformed, looking like a boy.
Is Ovid suggesting that what we think is nature is attitude? Does Iphis grow a penis? Or does Iphis, adopting the characteristics of a boy, remain a girl married to a girl, undermining traditional values?
Genre: Fantasy
Ligdus and Telethusa are having a child, but they cannot afford to have a girl. Ligdus informs Telethusa that she had better hope for a boy. While this decision makes them both sad, Telethusa "must/obey." She prays to Isis, but births a girl and names her Iphis, a name that "suited male or female-/a neutral name." She convinces everyone, including Ligdus, that Iphis is a boy.
Iphis matures and falls in love with another girl, Ianthe, and is engaged for marriage, yet s/he is ruled by the sexual norms of the time: "[P]ossessed by love so strange . . . no female wants/a female!" but "no learned art-can ever make of me/a boy." She attempts to reconcile her love for Ianthe against the pressures of "nature." The wedding day is near, Telethusa is desperate, and prays again to Isis. Iphis is transformed, looking like a boy.
Is Ovid suggesting that what we think is nature is attitude? Does Iphis grow a penis? Or does Iphis, adopting the characteristics of a boy, remain a girl married to a girl, undermining traditional values?
Genre: Fantasy
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Used availability for Ali Smith's Girl Meets Boy
See all available used copies of this book at: Abebooks UK or Abebooks US
Hardback Editions
May 2008 : Hardback
| Title: Girl Meets Boy: The Myth of Iphis Author(s): Ali Smith ISBN: 0-676-97875-4 / 978-0-676-97875-9 (USA edition) Publisher: Knopf Canada Availability: Amazon Amazon CA More details... |
March 2008 : Hardback
| Title: Girl Meets Boy Author(s): Ali Smith ISBN: 0-7531-8060-X / 978-0-7531-8060-0 (UK edition) Publisher: ISIS Large Print Books Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
December 2007 : Hardback
| Title: Girl Meets Boy: The Myth of Iphis (Myths) Author(s): Ali Smith ISBN: 1-84767-019-9 / 9781847670199 (UK edition) Publisher: Conongate Us Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
November 2007 : Hardback
| Title: Girl Meets Boy: The Myth of Iphis (Canongate Myths) Author(s): Ali Smith ISBN: 1-84195-869-7 / 9781841958699 (UK edition) Publisher: Canongate Books Ltd Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
November 2007 : Hardback
| Title: Girl Meets Boy Author(s): Ali Smith ISBN: 1-84767-264-7 / 9781847672643 (UK edition) Publisher: Canongate Books Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
Paperback Editions
July 2009 : Paperback
| Title: Girl Meets Boy Author(s): Ali Smith ISBN: 0-676-97876-2 / 978-0-676-97876-6 (USA edition) Publisher: Vintage Canada Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
January 2009 : Paperback
| Title: Girl Meets Boy: The Myth of Iphis (Myths) Author(s): Ali Smith ISBN: 1-84767-186-1 / 9781847671868 (UK edition) Publisher: Canongate Us Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
December 2008 : Paperback
| Title: Girl Meets Boy (Isis General Fiction) Author(s): Ali Smith ISBN: 0-7531-8061-8 / 978-0-7531-8061-7 (UK edition) Publisher: ISIS Large Print Books Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
June 2008 : Paperback
| Title: Girl Meets Boy (Canongate Myths) Author(s): Ali Smith ISBN: 1-84767-068-7 / 9781847670687 (UK edition) Publisher: Canongate Books Ltd Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
November 2007 : Paperback
| Title: Girl Meets Boy: The Myth of Iphis Author(s): Ali Smith ISBN: 1-84195-870-0 / 9781841958705 (UK edition) Publisher: Canongate Books Ltd Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
Other Editions
January 2007 : Kindle edition
| Title: Girl Meets Boy (Canongate Myths) Author(s): Ali Smith Publisher: Canongate Books Availability: Amazon UK More details... |
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