Francesca's review
Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke
Rilke's letters to Kappus are addressed to a young man who obviously reminds Rilke of his younger life and self.
Within these letters are intimate statements on the artist's solitude, love, ambitions, and sorrow.
Rilke writes, "As to my own books, I wish I could send you any of them...but I am very poor, and my books, as soon as they are published, no longer belong to me. I can't even afford them myself".
If Rilke was left without the ability to share his work as he wished with Kappus, he left him with deeply contemplated advice. It is difficult to not feel the carefully thought out advice as something highly personal and affecting.
The best discussions and most complete are those on solitude. Rilke offers that, "to walk inside youself and meet no one for hours, that is what you must be able to attain".
This short collection provides, for the reader of Rilke, insight into his own life and intimate beliefs. On occassion the writing seems less than comp...more
Within these letters are intimate statements on the artist's solitude, love, ambitions, and sorrow.
Rilke writes, "As to my own books, I wish I could send you any of them...but I am very poor, and my books, as soon as they are published, no longer belong to me. I can't even afford them myself".
If Rilke was left without the ability to share his work as he wished with Kappus, he left him with deeply contemplated advice. It is difficult to not feel the carefully thought out advice as something highly personal and affecting.
The best discussions and most complete are those on solitude. Rilke offers that, "to walk inside youself and meet no one for hours, that is what you must be able to attain".
This short collection provides, for the reader of Rilke, insight into his own life and intimate beliefs. On occassion the writing seems less than comp...more
