Letters to a Young Poet

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About this listen

Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable, audiobook edition of Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke, read by Max Deacon and Dan Stevens.

At the start of the twentieth century, Rainer Maria Rilke wrote a series of letters to a young officer cadet, advising him on writing, love, sex, suffering and the nature of advice itself; these profound and lyrical letters have since become hugely influential for writers and artists of all kinds. This book also contains the 'Letter from a Young Worker', a striking polemic against Christianity written in letter-form, near the end of Rilke's life. In Lewis Hyde's introduction, he explores the context in which these letters were written and how the author embraced his isolation as a creative force. Charlie Louth's afterword discusses the similarities and contrasts of the two works, and Rilke's religious and sexual wordplay. This edition also contains a chronology, notes, and suggested further reading.

Charlie LouthRainer Maria RilkeCharlie Louth - editorLewis Hyde - introductionCharlie Louth - translatorDan StevensMax DeaconPenguin

European

Letters & Correspondence

Literary History & Criticism

Memoirs, Diaries & Correspondence

Poetry

World Literature

European Letters & Correspondence Literary History & Criticism Memoirs, Diaries & Correspondence Poetry World Literature

Critic reviews

...I cannot think of a better book to put into the hands of any young would-be poet, as an inspirational guide to poetry and to surviving as a poet in a hostile world. (Harry Fainlight)

Most relevant

Great philosophy on art and creativity. If you are aspiring read and re-read. It's read vith capability and intelligence.

The letters are of course of their time and could do with a little emancipation regarding woman's role in art but taken all in all this is a espiltiliary of importance.