Letters to a Young Poet [Hardcover]

Rainer Maria Rilke (Author), Joan M. Burnham (Translator), Kent Nerburn (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 7, 2000 | ISBN-10: 1577311558 | ISBN-13: 978-1577311553 | Edition: 2nd

These have been called the most famous and beloved letters of the 20th century. Rainer Maria Rilke himself said that much of his creative expression went into his correspondence, and here he touches upon subjects that will interest writers, artists, and thinkers. Letters to a Young Poet is a classic that should be read by everyone who dreams of expressing themselves creatively. This luminous translation offers inspiration to all people who seek to know and express their inner truth. This edition features a new foreword by Kent Nerburn, author of Small Graces and Letters to My Son.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A year doesn't matter; ten years are nothing. To be an artist means not to compute or count; it means to ripen as the tree, which does not force its sap, but stands unshaken in the storms of spring with no fear that summer might not follow. It will come regardless. But it comes only to those who live as though eternity stretches before them, carefree, silent, and endless. I learn it daily, learn it with many pains, for which I am grateful: Patience is all!" — from the book --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: German

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: New World Library; 2nd edition (March 7, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1577311558
• ISBN-13: 978-1577311553
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #76,977 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #29 in Books > Literature & Fiction > World Literature > European
  • #38 in Books > Literature & Fiction > History & Criticism > European
  • #41 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Letters & Correspondence

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For the Artist, October 24, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Letters to a Young Poet (Classic Wisdom Collection) (Hardcover)

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.

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars eternal wisdom should be shared with everyone, September 17, 1998

By 

Jim S ([e-mail]) (Beaumont, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Letters to a Young Poet (Classic Wisdom Collection) (Hardcover)

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.

31 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Letter I wrote my friend upon sending this book:, September 25, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Evanston, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Letters to a Young Poet (Classic Wisdom Collection) (Hardcover)

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