Letters to a Young Poet and The Letter from the Young Worker

In 1903, a student at a military academy sent some of his verses to a well-known Austrian poet, requesting an assessment of their value. The older artist, Rainer Maria Rilke (1875–1926), replied to the novice in this series of letters — an amazing archive of remarkable insights into the ideas behind Rilke's greatest poetry. The ten letters reproduced here were written during an important stage in Rilke's artistic development, and they contain many of the themes that later appeared in his best works. The poet himself afterwards stated that his letters contained part of his creative genius, making this volume essential reading for scholars, poetry lovers, and anyone with an interest in Rilke, German poetry, or the creative impulse. At the start of the twentieth century, Rainer Maria Rilke wrote a series of letters to a young officer cadet, advising him on writing, love, sex, suffering and the nature of advice itself; these profound and lyrical letters have since become hugely influential for writers and artists of all kinds. This book also contains the 'Letter from a Young Worker', a striking polemic against Christianity written in letter-form, near the end of Rilke's life. In Lewis Hyde's introduction, he explores the context in which these letters were written and how the author embraced his isolation as a creative force. Charlie Louth's afterword discusses the similarities and contrasts of the two works, and Rilke's religious and sexual wordplay. This edition also contains a chronology, notes, and suggested further reading. Rilke's Letters to a Young Poet are arguably the most famous and beloved letters of the twentieth century. Written when the poet was himself still a young man, with most of his greatest work before him, they were addressed to a student who had sent Rilke some of his own writing, asking for advice on becoming a writer. The two never met, but over a period of several years Rilke wrote him these ten letters, cherished by readers for what translator Mitchell calls in his Foreword the "vibrant and deeply felt experience of life" that informs them. Eloquent and personal, Rilke's meditations on the creative process, the nature of love, the wisdom of children, and the importance of solitude offer a wealth of spiritual and practical guidance for anyone.--From publisher description Originally Written To A Young Man Considering A Career In The German Military, Rainer Maria Rilke's Beautiful Letters Explore A Huge Range Of Subjects Delicately And With A Passionate Sensitivity. The Recipient, Franz Kappus, Began To Send His Poetry To The 27-year-old Rilke When A Student, Seeking Advice. Their Correspondence Lasted From 1902 To 1908, And Kappus Collated And Published The Ten Letters After Rilke's Death. The Letters Contain Insights Which Are As Profound Today As When They Were Written, Touching On Sexuality, Love, Creativity And Other Aspects Of The Human Condition. The Book Is Perenially And Hugely Influential In The Us, Where It Enjoys The Accolade Of Being Lady Gaga's Favourite Book.