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: 5.2 x 0.6 x 7.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #140,891 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #20 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Poetry > German

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful

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

By A Customer

Format: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])

Format: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.

32 of 35 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars New edition of Letters to a young poet loses in translation October 18, 2000

By Tascha Dresser

Format:Hardcover

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.