Eros the Bittersweet is a lyrical and scholarly book by Canadian classicist and poet Anne Carson that explores the concept of romantic love (eros) in ancient Greek literature and philosophy, particularly its dual nature as both pleasurable and painful, a "bittersweet" experience. Carson examines this through the lens of Sappho's poetry, Plato's Phaedrus, and ancient Greek novels, focusing on themes of desire, lack, and the role of literacy in shaping these ideas. Originally published in 1986, it has become a classic in both academic and literary circles for its original insights and beautiful writing.