The Jong and the restless.(Erica Jong )(Interview)

Byline: George Wayne

With the amorous adventures of her heroine Isadora Wing, Erica Jong introduced the phrase "zipless fuck" into the pop-culture lexicon in 1973 in her novel Fear of Flying, which has sold more than 12 million copies. With her own well-publicized romances, and epigrams such as "Monogamy is impossible among interesting people," Jong, a feminist activist, has nonetheless been called the female Henry Miller. On the eve of the release of her new novel, Sappho's Leap, she takes a moment to reflect on college days at Barnard, Prozac, and George W. Bush.

George Wayne: G.W. is quite impressed with your Sappho-with the regal bearing of your latest narrator. "So many stories about me. My legend confused with the legend of Aphrodite. Did I leap to my death for the love of the handsome ferryman? Did I love women or men? Does love even have a sex?" Very interesting.

Erica Jong: It is very interesting. You know, if you are lucky enough to love, why quibble about what sex your lover is? That was said by a wonderful Irish writer called Nuala O'Faolain. She had lived with men and women, and she was asked if she was a lesbian. And she said, "If I am lucky enough to love, why should I quibble about the sex?" I always thought that to be so beautiful.

G.W. I thought Sappho was a lesbian.