One of the literary masterpieces of the century, this translation is now presented with facing-page German.
To Rilke himself the "Sonnets to Or... read full description
To Rilke himself the "Sonnets to Or... read full description
reviews
Nov 30, 2010
I don't know German, but I love bilingual editions (and not because I believe the translation is inferior or some such nonsense). I've at least heard enough German to approximate some of the sound, and the recurrent words/themes help. I like that mund (mouth) is similar to the Spanish mundo/mundial (world). I also in general like how grammar structures from the source-language translate into novel juxtapositions of words in the target-language. It's hard for me to say if it's Rilke or the langua
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May 21, 2008
Katherine
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I have no words to adequately describe this cycle, just open-mouthed awe.
Art. Death. Essential identity. The possibility of Being. I am blown away.
Art. Death. Essential identity. The possibility of Being. I am blown away.
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Apr 02, 2007
Marci
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A classic, certainly. But I always feel like I'm missing out on most of the music when I read poetry in translation.
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Jan 16, 2012
Paul
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Upon rereading Rainer Maria Rilke's Sonnets to Orpheus in a one hour sitting, well, except for the two midnight breaks, both being rather heroically flawed attempts to rock my little one to sleep, I found new appreciation for the pure music of the singing parts (the flowing sequence of the sonnets) in relation to the spirited, transforming whole. Here are my highlights this second time around as the child continues to cry into the night:
(from Part One)
Sonnet 21
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(from Part One)
Sonnet 21
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Jul 29, 2007
Miriam
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I'm writing this primarily for myself, apologies.
Orpheus as 'recipient' of the works can be considered quite literally, and the lyric form acting upon such originary and definitive musical identities as well. Yet music here flexes beyond its traditional boundaries, in that (natural) sound is constitutive of said music (sort of a John Cage avant la lettre, except -- and a major exception this is -- we are dealing with the forest and its animal denizens, not the city and its occurrence More...
Orpheus as 'recipient' of the works can be considered quite literally, and the lyric form acting upon such originary and definitive musical identities as well. Yet music here flexes beyond its traditional boundaries, in that (natural) sound is constitutive of said music (sort of a John Cage avant la lettre, except -- and a major exception this is -- we are dealing with the forest and its animal denizens, not the city and its occurrence More...
Oct 10, 2009
Dylan
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This book was bought for me on one of the most romantic and fulfilling evenings of my short life. Fresh from the Met's "Orfeo ed Euridice" wandering into a bookshop in the East Village, and returning home to a mind-gasm of reading aloud with someone I care dearly for. This collection is perfect for anyone who has loved or lost. "She slept the world..." This collection will continue to delight and haunt me for as long as I live.
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Sep 06, 2009
Daniel
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I admit, right off the bat, that I am not a fan of poetry. I try and try, but I just can't get in to it.
This book was a gift from someone special who wanted me to enjoy poetry. Instead I find some of the most absurd comparisons and metaphors for love and lovers that I've come across.
I'll read it again, to try to find what makes this sing, but I have little hope for me and my reading of poetry.
This book was a gift from someone special who wanted me to enjoy poetry. Instead I find some of the most absurd comparisons and metaphors for love and lovers that I've come across.
I'll read it again, to try to find what makes this sing, but I have little hope for me and my reading of poetry.
Oct 17, 2011
Laura Jane
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I knew I wanted this book as soon as I read the introduction and the first two sonnets. I bought the Kindle edition, and then of course removed the DRM encryption and converted it to EPUB format. After finishing it, I'll say this: While there were a few verses I really loved, I was overall a bit disappointed with it. Rilke deserves my admiration for his talent and for the inspiration from Beyond which he obviously had in order to write these sonnets.
Jun 17, 2011
Korin
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I really enjoyed this a lot. It's one of those books to pull out during the in-between-times when nothing else is quite working reading or writing wise and you just want something else to focus on because that's the thing that'll jog everything else back into place. I'm definitely going to read "Letters to a Young Poet" at some point.
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Oct 14, 2010
Adam
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In A Portrait of the Artist, Joyce (or the stand-in for his youth, at least) says that art should invoke a stillness in one’s being. This collection of poetry exemplifies such an invocation. It’s occasionally almost Emersonian in its description of nature and sensuous life, but far more serene, gentle, inclusive. Its effect is cumulative, rather than based on the power of individual verses, but I’ll toss up a favorite quote anyway:
…A few notes of music, a tapping, a faint
h More...
…A few notes of music, a tapping, a faint
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Jan 02, 2010
Sara
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I found the second part to be particularly beautiful.
As sometimes the hurriedly nearer leaf
catches the authentic stroke from the master's
hand: so mirrors often take into themselves
the sacred single smile of girls.
However it killed me to look at the German on the left and not be able partake in the rhyming. Damn my latin ear! I found German so difficult to learn I gave it up for Italian. Now I think I have a reason to take it up again.
As sometimes the hurriedly nearer leaf
catches the authentic stroke from the master's
hand: so mirrors often take into themselves
the sacred single smile of girls.
However it killed me to look at the German on the left and not be able partake in the rhyming. Damn my latin ear! I found German so difficult to learn I gave it up for Italian. Now I think I have a reason to take it up again.
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Mar 08, 2011
Adam
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The introduction suggests these poems were all produced in a matter of days,but the notes reveal there's more to the story. These were ideas and experiences simmering within Rilke over many years, finally boiling over as he concentrated on the death of a young acquaintance.
But the achievement is no less astounding. To produce one good sonnet is no mean feat ... to produce 55 good sonnets -- some of them great --in such a short time is astounding.
As usual, I regret that I More...
But the achievement is no less astounding. To produce one good sonnet is no mean feat ... to produce 55 good sonnets -- some of them great --in such a short time is astounding.
As usual, I regret that I More...
Oct 21, 2010
Eli
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In his notes on translating the Sonnets to Orpheus (I skipped the 90-page introduction, thanks all the same), Willis Barnstone claims his rendering of the Sonnets lets Rilke "sing". If that's true, it's the kind of drunk and desperate singing that Bobcat Goldthwait's character does at the end of Scrooged. I know that translating poetry is an excruciating and often thankless job, but having recently finished Will and Mary Crichton's version of Duino Elegies, I know it can be done better
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Feb 02, 2012
Carmen
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The introduction in the version I read was almost as long as the poems. I quite liked the poem about the tree. Many made me reflect. I realized it's been quite a while since I have read poetry.
Sep 07, 2011
Naomi
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Loved the translation! These would not be for everyone but they hit the spot for me this summer.
Oct 27, 2010
Eel
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i would give this 4.5 stars if it was a choice but if i knew german and read it in german i would probably have given it 5 stars so w/e. rilke mentioned a column that lasted after the building it had supported no longer existed, and as i read that part i happened to be sitting on a column of exactly that sort. funny stuff.
Feb 29, 2008
Alexandra
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I have skipped around a lot with this one. I have received mixed opinions about whether or not to read them in order so I went for the skipping. The ones I have read I have liked very much.
A guest poet who visited my college read a few of them in German which is what inspired me to read them in the first place. If you can find a reading of the sonnets in German, the difference in sound is quite interesting. English rhyme versus German rhyme.
A guest poet who visited my college read a few of them in German which is what inspired me to read them in the first place. If you can find a reading of the sonnets in German, the difference in sound is quite interesting. English rhyme versus German rhyme.
Apr 20, 2009
D. E.
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I'm reading the Norton 1962 bilingual edition.
#20:
...O wie unfasslich entfernt.
Schicksal, es misst uns vielleicht mit des Seienden Spanne,
dass es uns fremd erscheint;
denk, wieviel Spannen allein vom Madchen zum Manne,
wenn es ihn meidet und meint.
#20:
...O wie unfasslich entfernt.
Schicksal, es misst uns vielleicht mit des Seienden Spanne,
dass es uns fremd erscheint;
denk, wieviel Spannen allein vom Madchen zum Manne,
wenn es ihn meidet und meint.
Mar 08, 2009
Michael
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With my being such an avid advocate of The Duino Elegies, how is it then that I find the Sonnets almost unreadable? Why do I find them so sacchyrine?
I cannot just be down to translation but something more endemic.
It is as though his critical faculties were on vacation, and what he writes is what he would most like to write, without the shot of cold reality that takes one deeper, or at least, into more engaging territories.
I cannot just be down to translation but something more endemic.
It is as though his critical faculties were on vacation, and what he writes is what he would most like to write, without the shot of cold reality that takes one deeper, or at least, into more engaging territories.
Nov 19, 2007
Matthew
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A more literal, sparer translation than the Stephen Mitchell, good for students of German and, if less beautiful, truer to the succinctness of the original. Especially recommended is Sonnet #2, though there is plenty of heart-crushing material to be found here.
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Oct 22, 2010
laura
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i tried my best to read this in german, but well, i reverted to the english. rilke is somewhat out-there for me. there are places where his language is really beautiful. more often than not, it seems ordinary in these sonnets.
Dec 17, 2009
Adam
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I haven't stopped reading this book since I received it as a gift in the spring of 2006. Rilke is arguably the greatest poet of the 20th century. He confirms Holderlin's great words that poetry points to being itself.
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Dec 16, 2009
anya
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Oh, this is strange, passionate, poetry that is concerned with music, death,love, life, ecstacy--but trying to get at those things thru language. You have to read this before you die.
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Feb 09, 2009
Suhaila
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I read this book based on the recommendation of a school friend. Rilke’s twist on the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice is an unexpected take on their tragic tale. Fresh.
Dec 17, 2009
Monica
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only proves that rilke is one the greatest poets of the twentieth century. his voice can be unclear at times, but when he's good, pure poetry springs forth...
Nov 13, 2007
Kathryn
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I know that I love Rilke's poetry, but this translation doesn't even come close to doing it justice. I need to find a different version.
Jan 23, 2008
James
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I am a lover of digging into the classics in order to give the old stories a fresh breath. Rilke does this astoundingly well.
