The Sacred Threshold: A Life of Rainer Maria Rilke

by J.F. Hendry

Portrays the life of the distinguished German poet, Rainer Maria Rilke, and analyzes the themes and symbolism of his writings

184 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

J.F. Hendry was a Scottish writer. He is best known for his novel about growing up in the West of Scotland, Fernie Brae (1947), and as the pioneering editor, along with Henry Treece, of the three anthologies, The New Apocalypse, White Horsemen and Crown and Sickle, and as the author of two volumes of verse, The Bombed Happiness and Orchestral Mountain, and of the epic poem Marimarusa.

He was educated at Whitehill School in Dennistoun and was a student of Modern Languages at the University of Glasgow although he did not graduate. He served in the Intelligence Corps during the Second World War and when the war was over he left Scotland to travel through Europe, Africa and North America as a translator with the United Nations. He was for many years Director of the School of Translators and Interpreters at Laurentian University, Ontario, Canada. He died in Toronto in 1986.

Reviews

[Bohemian Book Lover · Rating 3 out of 5]

*This was a good
*Start
*To my reading commemoration of the hundredth
*Anniversary of Rilke's death (1926-2026). I have read a biography of his before (A RINGING GLASS) so I just needed to refresh my memory & I
*Liked how swiftly this book went
*Over his life while emphasising the most decisive events & his development/maturity as a poet. However, I did find it difficult to keep up with all his acquaintances, pen-pals & patrons (for someone who jealously safeguarded & worshipped his solitude, he made & had a lot of friends!) My favourite part was the final chapter entitled Affirmations, which delves deeper into the essence & philosophy of
*Rilke's poetry, especially in The Duino Elegies & Sonnets to Orpheus. It concludes with lines extracted from the Sonnets which I find appropriate for the centenary of his death:

"Erect no stone in memory. Let the rose
blossom every year to his renown."

[Journey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Concisely written, well researched, elegant writing style. A good short (under 200 pages) biography. I understand much more about the real person, the period of time in which he lived, where he lived and traveled and how this was a component of his work. Reading the letters, biography, etc., puts the poetry in context, allows for an appreciation of Rilke's writing process and the *life* of the work.

"Erect no stone in memory. Let the rose blossom every year to his renown."

J.S. Bach was played at Rilke's memorial service.

Here is quote which I would like to hold on to which pretty much sums up Rilke's advice to the young poet: When asked by Elizabeth Schmidt-Pauli why he did not put more of his personal feelings into his poetry, Rilke pointed to a tree and responded, "I should like so to express this tree that only the tree is there, just as it is - with nothing of Rilke in it at all. ...somewhere deep in us must lie the point at which we know everything, can do everything, are everything, and stand in unity with everything. We should take it very seriously and descend into our depths, in order to find the spot." (p. 121)

[Belinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved reading this book because it gave me a deeper understanding of Rilke, whom is my favorite poet.

[Catherine Corman · Rating 4 out of 5]

And I, who still do nothing but crave

-Rilke