Customer Reviews

Letters to a Young Poet

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This book first came to my attention when a good friend of mine sent me a quote from it, which has since become my life quote ("Be patient toward everything unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves..Do not search for the answers which could not be given to you now because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything...Live the questions now")

Since I heard this quote, I tracked down a copy of the book after searching a half dozen bookstores and libraries, and it was worth every minute of work to find it. This book has been put on the highest level of appreciation in my mind, up there with Richard Bach's 'Illusion' and 'One'; my two other favorite books. Rilke's book was written for the artist; the person who wants to live life to its fullest and explore both the inner and outer world and their connections.

Although, as another reviewer said, this book will not be fully appreciated by all readers, it is a must read for everyone, especially those who appreciate spirituality, art and living.

A very good friend gave this book to me as I was struggling to find myself during my early college years. I was instantly amazed at how a book written over ninety years ago could be so precisely helpful to the many questions I was suffering with at the time. Rilke introduced me to the concept of solitude as a blessing. This idea has truly changed my life for the better as I have taken the time to step away from life and look inside for the answers I seek. If I had one gift to give someone I truly cared about, it would be this masterpiece. Although the contents of this book can not be appreciated by everyone, I challenge all to read it and see if it sparks the fire in them that it has brought to me.

Erin, I'm sitting in my corner room which is a horrendous mess currently. But if I look out of the windows a certain way, I feel as though I'm looking over the iron balconies of Paris in the twenties. Which is rather nice. I've been reading voraciously the past few days, and I want to send you a book. It expresses things about religion, about solitude, about sex, about life, which strike a chord inside me, creating a real harmony. The writer has a way of causing in me that feeling when I can't remember a word, but it's on the tip of my tongue. I understand the essence of the word, but I can't place the actual thing. It escapes me. Then someone relieves me by coming up with precisely that word. (Perhaps after days of torture.) It's a jubilant occurance when I pronunce it. The comfort of matching name with thing. This writer brings me this relief about all the lost musings of my life. He puts perfectly into words a combination of philosophies, and his writing resonates with that absolute truth which transcends the individual. I think you'll like. Auf wiedersehen. Love, Lauren

This is my third encounter with This collection of letters written by Rilke to a young poet who sought his guidance and approval a century ago. The first edition or translation I believe is the best with this new edition being my last out of the three editions I know. The translator, who saught to make Rilke's word accessible to the readers of todays world , in so doing took away some of the poetic fluency from his letters .Such as letter eight where it goes" How should we forget those ancient myths that are at the beginning of all peoples, the myths about dragons who at the last minute turn into princeses? Perhaps all the dragons of our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us once beautiful and brave. Perhaps everything terrible is something helpless who wants our help. You must not be frightend if a sorrow rises up before you larger than any you have ever seen, if a restiveness like light and cloud shadows passes over your hands and over all you are doing. You must think that something is happening with you, that life has not forgotten you, that it holds you in its hands. It will not let you fall". This is the version of this passage from letter eight that I remember and have shared with my loved ones ever since I discovred these letters years ago when I thought someone could use some hopeful words and needed uplifting and not the ones from this new edition that has lost some of its poetic magic and moved people for generations. I will have to agree with one other reviewer who said that this book is good if you want a keepsake of this classic collection of letters but if you want them to move you seek another version.

First, let me say Rilke is one of my favorite poets. That being said...I was greatly disappointed in this translation. There are sections where it seems the translator simply grabbed a thesaurus or perhaps a German to English phrase book and in turn does not do Rilke justice. If you have read or are interested in reading LETTERS TO A YOUNG POET, I highly recommend the translation by Stephen Mitchell. Simply put, his is the best there is. Enjoy!

Letters to a Young Poet
by Rainer Maria Rilke (translated by Joan M. Burnham)

Published: New World Library.
Number of Pages: 95, plus additional 18 pages of text, including Forward, Introduction,
About the Author, About the Translator, and Recommended Reading Lists
Year Published: 2000
Price: $15.00
Widely available at large and niche book stores and on-line (ISBN - 1-57731-155-8)

Ideal Audience: The most profound impact of this lovely little book will be on serious writers who want wise counsel, reassurance, and encouragement to pursue the writing life. That having been said, there is enough substantive content that, properly presented, the book could be a useful tool for creative writing teachers at the accelerated high school level or above.

Brief Summary: Rilke was a Czechoslovakian poet of some note in his lifetime (1875-1926) who in his late twenties and early thirties exchanged letters with a younger poet, the now nearly-unknown Franz Xaver Kappus, who sent Rilke some of his work for comment. The book contains 10 of Rilke's letters, edited and translated from the original German, from that correspondence. Dated over a period of five years, the letters evolve from providing general advice on literary devices (such as the use of irony), to opinions on topics related to writing, including the value of others' criticisms, to philosophizing on the virtues of solitary work, the uses of adversity, and the impact of building a life around one's art. As one would expect from a poet, Rilke's observations are intensely personal, heartfelt, and beautifully written (subject to the caveat of their having been read only in translation).

Because he specifically declined to critique Kappus' submissions to him, Rilke is not a source for substantive lessons on techniques, especially those thought of as pertaining primarily to the novel, such as plot arc, character development, etc. He speaks most eloquently and timelessly on a writer's need to incorporate experiences, a child's perspective, and, especially, aloneness into the creative process.

Although the format of Letters to a Young Poet was driven by actuality rather than as a clever construct, the book stands as an effective example of the opportunities of the form and could certainly be taught that way, particularly to younger writers exploring various creative writing devices in either fiction or non-fiction. There are also passages of great lyrical beauty that could be used in a classroom or workshop as examples of description or metaphor.





Sample Excerpts: The following passage is typical of Rilke's commitment to encouraging a young writer's confidence and reliance on his own judgment as opposed to external critiques:

When considering analysis, discussion, or presentation, listen to your inner self and to your feelings every time. Should you be mistaken, after all, the natural growth of your inner life will guide you slowly and in good time to other conclusions. Allow your judgments their own quiet, undisturbed development, which, as with all progress, must come from deep within and can in no way be forced or hastened. (p. 25-26)

Rilke's skill as a poet is evident in his evocative descriptions and phraseology, as in the following written from Rome:

Unending streams of lively water flow over the old aqueducts in the large city. They dance in the city squares over white stone bowls and spread themselves out in wide roomy basins. They rustle by day and raise their voice to the night. Night here is grand, expansive, soft from the winds, and full of stars. . . . And staircases are here, steps conceived by Michelangelo, steps that were modeled after downward gliding waters, broad in their descent, one step giving birth to another, as wave from wave. (p. 46-47)

As philosopher, Rilke can be inspiring:

We can be sure of very little, but the need to court struggle is a surety that will not leave us. It is good to be lonely, for being alone is not easy. The fact that something is difficult must be one more reason to do it. (p. 62-63)

Primary Strength: I was deeply affected by Rilke's reassurances that a writer's life can be - even needs to be - difficult. He wisely advises making peace with the isolation and loneliness that seem to be endemic with writers, and his tone of encouragement and deep affection for those who chose an artistic life does not waver.

Primary Weakness: Some readers may find Rilke's philosophy obvious and dated. Certainly a writer or teacher of writing seeking how-to guidance or exercises to strengthen specific techniques will not find them here.

Urgency Rating: As a classic of its type and for the sincere reassurances it offers, this book should be on the nightstand of every struggling writer. Teachers who care about how their students live as writers (as opposed to just producing decent writing) would do well to READ THIS PROMPTLY and consider incorporating in their attitudes and interactions its spirit of encouragement and commitment.

I read this book when I was experiencing a crisis in my health and forced to make a career change. My biggest struggle was not knowing how things would turn out. His exortation to "try not to worry about the answers, but to love the questions," to paraphrase, sustained me through a long period of self-doubt and struggle. It remains one of my favorite books and one I recommend highly, especially to anyone facing a life transition.

Any seeking an inspirational keepsake edition of a classic will relish this collection of letters which appears here in a revised new edition including a new foreword by Kent Nerburn. The presentation makes this classic a winner.

For one human being to love another is perhaps the most difficult task of all, the epitome, the ultimate test. It is that striving for which all other striving is merely preparation. ~Rainer Maria Rilke

After recently discovering twelve little treasures, I was eager to read the first book, Letters To a Young Poet, by candlelight on my deck. In the silence of the night the candle kept me company while peering into the world of two poets captured in an intimate exchange of ideas.

Franz Xaver Kappus first discovers the "Poems of Rainer Maria Rilke" and then seeks out his advice. Franz mails Rainer his poems and their correspondence lasts until 1908. This book contains ten letters from 1903 to 1908.

The letters are from Rainer to Franz and none of the poems they discuss have been included. This would have been enlightening, but alas, I have yet to find the poems they discuss. It is not necessary to read the poems to enjoy the letters and after reading the letters, I now want to read Rainer's poems.

Rainer Maria Rilke is quite generous with his advice and explores various aspects of life as observed by a poet. He explains how critical words influence a work of art less than praise and then delicately composes a brief analysis of Franz Xaver Kappus' poems.

For the most part, Rainer seems to be giving advice about being patient, embracing struggle and how to understand the connection between primeval urges and art. He also gives advice about solitude and sexuality in regards to the artistic temperament.

"Everything in nature grows and struggles in its own way, establishing its own identity, insisting on it at all cost, against all resistance." ~Rainer Maria Rilke

Letters To A Young Poet is a rare find and if you are seeking to gaze through a small window and to view a brief glimpse of the artistic life, then I can highly recommend this tiny treasure to you. If you read this book, I can almost guarantee you will want to find additional books by Rainer Maria Rilke because they will give insight into your own life and personal transformation. I especially loved the letter where Rainer discusses having patience "with everything that remains unsolved in your heart." He suggests that we try to love the questions.

Then I had a thought about the answers being of little importance when compared to the knowledge of the questions very existence. Mostly because the answers are the mystery and even Rainer admits that "they cannot now be given to you because you could not live them."

~The Rebecca Review

I read this book when I was experiencing a crisis in my health and forced to make a career change. My biggest struggle was not knowing how things would turn out. His exortation to "try not to worry about the answers, but to love the questions," to paraphrase, sustained me through a long period of self-doubt and struggle. It remains one of my favorite books and one I recommend highly, especially to anyone facing a life transition.