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.

E.J. I think Sappho wasn't really, but she lived in an age when bisexuality was unremarkable. She lived when women had tender relationships with other women, men had tender relationships with other men, and they also married in order to have children. This was in pre-Christian times, so they didn't think of it as something to be ashamed of. They didn't have the hang-ups that we have.

G.W. How extensive was the research here, Erica? Did you sink your teeth, or, rather, your tongue, into the subject wholeheartedly?