Fragments of desire
by Johanna Dehler
Tracing the influence of Sappho's fragmented literary legacy on three 20th-century women writers - H.D., Judy Grahn, and Monique Wittig - this book discusses Sapphic fiction as a genre that emerged throughout the 20th century. H.D., Grahn, and Wittig represent three movements that have shaped the approach to the sexual subject and her desires: modernism, cultural feminism, and poststructuralism respectively. H.D. responds to Sappho with an imagistic style that resembles Sappho's terse and clipped lines. Grahn recreates the idea of Lesbos as a model for a women-centered society. Wittig, writing from a poststructuralist background, alludes to Sappho in her fierce critique of myth and language. This study draws on recent debates about the history of sexuality, the body, and the construction of the self, and is meant as a contribution to the ongoing debate on how gender is constructed in modernist and postmodernist discourse.
About This Book
Fragments of desire is an american poetry romance novel by Johanna Dehler, first published in 1999 by P. Lang. It runs 154 pages. Readers can expect sweet heat; a intellectual and reflective tone.
At a glance
- Genre
- American poetry
- Heat
- Sweet
- Mood
- intellectual
- Published
- 1999
- Length
- 154 pages
Where to read or listen
Get Fragments of desire by Johanna Dehler
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Why You May Love This Book
You may love this if…
- A scholarly exploration of how Sappho's fragmented legacy shaped 20th-century lesbian literature through the works of H.D., Judy Grahn, and Monique Wittig.
- Literary scholars
- Students of feminist theory
- intellectual
- Features unknown
This may not be ideal if…
- Readers looking for a narrative romance novel
- Readers seeking light entertainment
- Readers who dislike academic jargon
The Romance
Tropes, dynamics, and the chemistry that drives this story.
Tropes
Details
Type: unknown
Pairing: unknown
Power balance: unknown
How It Feels
The emotional landscape you'll move through while reading.
Heat Level
Based on available metadata and editorial review.
Who Is This Book For?
Best for
Reading mood
May not suit
Recommended audience: Academic/Scholarly
Content Guidance
The Story
Spoiler-Free Synopsis
Fragments of Desire analyzes the emergence of Sapphic fiction as a distinct genre. By focusing on H.D.'s imagism, Judy Grahn's women-centered utopias, and Monique Wittig's poststructuralist critiques, Johanna Dehler investigates the intersection of gender, language, and desire. The text draws on contemporary debates regarding the body and the construction of the self to contribute to the understanding of modernist and postmodernist feminist discourse.
Central Conflict
The tension between historical erasure (Sappho's fragments) and the 20th-century effort to construct a coherent lesbian literary identity and language.
Setting
20th-century literary history and theory.
Themes
Strengths
- Rigorous intersectional analysis
- Synthesizes three distinct literary movements
- Deep dive into the legacy of Sappho
Consider before reading
- Highly academic and potentially inaccessible to general readers
- Short length (154 pages) for such broad theoretical scope
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Discussion Guide
Questions to deepen your reading experience or spark a book club conversation.
- 1
How does the central conflict shape the relationship between the main characters?
- 2
Which theme — Sapphic studies — resonated most strongly with you, and why?
- 3
How does the setting influence the characters' decisions and their relationship?
- 4
Who would you most want to recommend this book to?
- 5
How did the pacing affect your reading experience?
- 6
Which aspect of the story did you find most compelling?
How This Profile Was Created
Eikna uses book metadata and AI-assisted analysis to create structured romance profiles. Public profiles are reviewed and approved by an editor before publication.
- Editor reviewed:
- Yes
- Last reviewed:
- August 29, 2026
- Confidence:
- High confidence
- Profile version:
- eikna-public-book-intelligence-v1
About the Author
Johanna Dehler
What Readers Say
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Publication Details
- Publisher
- P. Lang
- Published
- 1999
- Length
- 154 pages
- Language
- English
- ISBN-13
- 9780820436173
- ISBN-10
- 363133642X
Fragments of desire: quick answers
- Who wrote Fragments of desire?
- Fragments of desire was written by Johanna Dehler.
- When was Fragments of desire published?
- Fragments of desire was first published in 1999 by P. Lang.
- What genre is Fragments of desire?
- Fragments of desire is an american poetry romance novel.
- How many pages is Fragments of desire?
- Fragments of desire is 154 pages long.
- How spicy is Fragments of desire?
- EIKNA rates Fragments of desire as sweet heat.
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This is my book — sign inWhere to read or listen
Get Fragments of desire by Johanna Dehler
These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
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