Daphnis and Chloe

“Daphnis and Chloe” is the timeless story of young love by Greek writer Longus. Written sometimes during the 2nd century AD in the Roman Empire and the only work by Longus to have survived the passage of time, “Daphnis and Chloe” is one of the most enduringly popular works of Greek literature and has inspired countless adaptations. Deeply thoughtful and emotional, it is the story of two young orphans who are abandoned at birth and grow up as neighbors. Daphnis tends to the flock of the goatherd who has raised him and Chloe looks after the sheep of her adopted family. The two lonely teenagers fall in love with each other, but are naïve and inexperienced. They are frightened of their strong feelings for each other and are unsure of what to do with their passions. Chloe is constantly pestered by unwanted suitors while Daphnis is captured by pirates and nearly killed. Soon the true parents of the orphans are revealed and the young couple is reunited and assured of their happily ever after. A classic and timeless tale, Longus captures how confusing and overwhelming a first love can be and his sensitive and thoughtful tale remains one of literature’s great romances.