The Duino Elegies stand as the capstone of Rilke's poetic work.
He began work on them at Schloss Duino, an Italian seaside village, during the winter of 1912, completing them a decade later in 1922. These poems articulate Rilke's hope, voiced in the Tenth Elegy, "that I, one day, standing at the end of this harsh vision, / might sing out with joy and praise to the assenting angels." They stand as his "final testament" as a writer, an epic work which traces "the long experience of love" that shapes our lives. Across the span of these poems we find ourselves in a visionary landscape where love and death, suffering and rejoicing, anguish and celebration together constitute "the Whole." Rilke invites us to practice what he once called "heart-work," a way of living by which we learn to see how "being-here is magnificent."
Amid the chorus of translators who have approached this cycle, Mark S. Burrows' version stands out in capturing the peculiar power of his images while also honoring the luminous strangeness of his voice. This elegant, original translation by this distinguished Rilke scholar includes an introduction, an afterword that explores the themes central to the poet's mystical vision, and explanatory notes to the text.
It also includes a selection of Rilke's letters and journal entries in which he addresses the poems' complexities, elucidates otherwise cryptic allusions found in the elegies, and comments on the personal circumstances of its composition.
This edition celebrates the centenary of the poet's death in 1926.
| ISBN: | 9781966608479 |
| Publication date: | 5th November 2026 |
| Author: | Rainer Maria Rilke |
| Publisher: | Monkfish Book Publishing |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Pagination: | 156 pages |
| Genres: |
Poetry by individual poets Mysticism |
The Duino Elegies stand as the capstone of Rilke's poetic work. He began work on them at Schloss Duino, an Italian seaside village, during the winter of 1912, completing them a decade later in 1922.
Duino Elegies features in the following genres: Poetry by individual poets, Mysticism
Paperback, Ebook. £15.29, down from the £16.99 cover price. Not Available.
Duino Elegies was written by Rainer Maria Rilke and published by Monkfish Book Publishing
Duino Elegies has 156 pages
£15.29, reduced from £16.99. Not Available.