Letters to a Young Poet

Background:"Letters to a Young Poet" is a very short book first published in 1929. The book is comprised of ten letters written by Rainer Maria Rilke, a Bohemian-Austrian poet who died in 1926 from leukemia at the age of 51.The letters in the book were written from 1903 to 1908, as Rainer reached his 30's, and were from a series of correspondence between himself and another Austrian named Franz Kappus, a 19-year-old aspiring poet studying as a cadet at a military academy, who had written to Rainer for advice about poetry, the direction of his life, love, and other things.The letters from Rainer were published posthumously by Franz, who did not include his own letters to Rainer, but from Rainer's written responses you can determine what the correspondence was about. What unfolds in the letters is that Rainer takes on the role of an older brother and offers advice to Franz about poetry, art, love, and life in general.Rainer's letters to the young cadet are still some of his most famous work more than a century later, due to their eloquence and sincerity.My Opinion:I just finished reading this M.D. Herter Norton translation of Letters to a Young Poet. I had heard the actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt recommend it in an interview as his favorite book nearly two years ago and I bought it based on his description but was waiting until I had finished other books first.However, I felt compelled to skip the others and start it early and within the first few pages I just really felt a connection to him in the letters he wrote and couldn't stop reading.After a quick YouTube search looking for more information about him and reading recommendations, and after viewing a short documentary film from the year 2000 about his life, it seems quite apparent to me that Rilke suffered from bipolar disorder, a mood disorder. While I am not a psychologist or psychiatrist, I am a behavioral health advocate, former certified peer specialist in mental health conditions, and most importantly someone who has bipolar disorder type 2.I've never felt so connected to someone's words before, each verse like a mirror showing the unfiltered me to myself, like someone flinging open the windows in my room and letting in the light to both illuminate and cast shadows upon me as I search for myself through this recent phase of major depression that I've been experiencing.Like Rilke, I too become extremely productive when I experience phases of mania, and when I'm going through major depression phases, I yearn to return to mania because I feel like that's when I can do my most extensive work. But also like Rilke, I find inspiration in the heavy cloud of depression that feeds my creative outlets.Recently I've been unable to find the words to explain my current experiences and reading Rilke's letters has helped me through.Other Collections:Rilke has many other collections of poetry and prose. If you go to YouTube and use the search tool with his name you will find book recommendations and some incredibly profound readings from his works by some YouTube users that will blow you away!I have just ordered two other collections of his works: "The Poetry of Rilke" by Edward Snow which contains some of his most beloved poetry and prose, and "The Dark Interval" by Ulrich Baer which is a another collection of Rilke's letters on loss, grief, and transformation.

I bought this copy for a book club meet-up, but they recommended another translation. I've read both and like this one so much better. There is more detail into the life of Rilke in the additional chapters in this translation. But I was really intrigued by the subtle differences in two translations from German. I would recommend get another translation from another author to do a comparison, the other copy I have is by Mitchell, I got that at a book store for less than $10, just a 4x7 inch paper back, that had a poor type set font. The size for this book is 8x 51/4 and font is easier to read. You might think that I have received some sort of financial award from writing this much, but I was impressed with the words of these letters, they are so pointe and thought provoking. The range of the discussion goes from, creativity, solitude, to love.

Love Rilke

Letters to a Young Poet is a short read that you can run your eyes and your soul over again and again! But just because it is a short read does not mean it has to be a quick read. Rilke's words were so rich and full that I had to read his letters slowly. I found I enjoyed savoring his beautifully sculpted words even though part of me wished to devour them.Mr. Kappus, a young poet struggling with life in military school, discovers that he is enrolled in the same military school that Rilke used to attend. Therefore, he decides to seek Rilke's advice and opinions in his poetic endeavors through written correspondence. This book is a compilation of ten letters Rilke sends in response to Mr. Kappus's letters. After the letters themselves, the book builds background context to the letters by informing the reader about Rilke's life and state of mind during the time these letters were written.I found this book inspiring and saddening at the same time. It isn't really the advice Rilke offers that I value and enjoy so much. My love for this collection of letters stems from the incredible word pictures that Rilke paints in my head and his touchingly sincere style of writing. For example he paints a visual of patience with, "Being an artist means, not reckoning and counting, but ripening like the tree which does not force its sap and stands confident in the storms of spring without the fear that after them may come no summer." His words stir something in the heart.He writes with such intensity and depth that you can see each lesson taught and each thought that is shared has been earned at a high cost to the writer. He speaks to the young poet on solitude and patience for which he has himself been battling to achieve. As I read, I began to feel that maybe he is actually advising and encouraging himself as much as Mr. Kappus through writing these letters.At first I didn't really find the ending section of the book on the life of Rilke very interesting. In fact, it bored me until I got to the background of about Rilke's sixth letter which contained more of Rilke's own words from correspondence he had with other people. But when I went back and read the letters again, I saw even more depth and emotion in them revealed by the context built in that ending biographical section.This is one of those books I'd keep handy for repeated reading. The reason I rated the book a 4 instead of 5 is because I don't know if this book is for everyone. I really enjoyed it, and I truly believe most will. But I could see some that will read it and just not find the beauty in it. If you love the magnitude of words, this book is for you. Drink it deeply and enjoy!

There is so much insight to draw from in these letters about being an artist. I also loved reading the chronicle which gave context about Rilke’s life during the time of each letter. This book really changes how I view many things in life and I’m so glad I read it. I think every artist should.

First of all, this is a little gem everyone should have on their shelf. As John Adams said, you're never lonely with a poet in your pocket.The copy that was sent is so lovely...used in the nicest way as if whomever owned it, treated it as the treasure it surely is. There was even a sweet bookmark in place to greet me. It came fast, had a receipt, not always the case, so I've happily bookmarked the seller who will hear from me again.