Ahead of All Parting: The Selected Poetry and Prose of Rainer Maria Rilke (Modern Library) (English & German Edition) (English and German Edition) [Hardcover]

Rainer Maria Rilke (Author), Stephen Mitchell (Translator)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 615 pages
• Publisher: Modern Library; 1st edition (August 1, 1995)
• Language: English, German
• ISBN-10: 0679601619
• ISBN-13: 978-0679601616
• Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 1.2 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #377,145 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

85 of 90 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Consummate Rilke Translation, January 14, 2000

By 

Sharon L. Calhoon (New Harbor, Maine) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ahead of All Parting: The Selected Poetry and Prose of Rainer Maria Rilke (Modern Library) (English & German Edition) (English and German Edition) (Hardcover)

Of the volumes in my collection of Rilke work, this is the single book I reach for most often. Stephen Mitchell is a master of translation with a consummate feel for nuance that is imperative in poetry translating. For anyone embarked on a personal spiritual journey, reading Rilke is essential. Mitchell, an able guide on such a journey, has selected powerful, insightful works. The first 2-verse poem, "I live my life in widening rings," is alone worthy of years of contemplation. And I never cease to find inspiration and solace in "For the Sake of a Single Poem." I consider "Ahead of All Parting" one of the five most important books I own.

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This collection is more comprehensive, November 5, 2002

By A Customer

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This review is from: Ahead of All Parting: The Selected Poetry and Prose of Rainer Maria Rilke (Modern Library) (English & German Edition) (English and German Edition) (Hardcover)

I just thought I would clarify that this collection is more comprehensive than The Selected Poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke, also translated by Stephen Mitchell. Ahead of All Parting includes all poems in the aforementioned book and adds many more.

44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely magnificent, April 5, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Ahead of All Parting: The Selected Poetry and Prose of Rainer Maria Rilke (Modern Library) (English & German Edition) (English and German Edition) (Hardcover)

Very few translations of poetry manage to capture not only the content but the "feel" of the original text. Mitchell's rendering of Rilke is one of these rarities: without slavishly imitating Rilke's rhythms or attempting to pin down his sometimes elusive meanings, he's enabled the non-German-speaker to experience Rilke's poetry in spirit as well as sense. (I'm not a Rilke scholar, but I know enough German to read and appreciate the originals.) The notes are useful too -- sometimes an idea that Rilke expressed obliquely in a poem is much clearer in his correspondence! This volume contains all of Rilke's "major" poetry and selections from his prose, so it's a good, reasonably priced introduction to his work. (And the book has a good "feel" too -- heavy paper, clear type, a solid cover -- which is rare in these days of cheap computer-assisted printing!) This book belongs in the library of anyone who's serious about 20th century poetry -- and anyone who appreciates the art of translation.