Letters to a Young Poet

Letters to a Young Poet

"Letters to a Young Poet" is a very influential compilation of letters by Rainer Maria Rilke. It consists of 10 letters written to a young man considering entering the German military.

Background

The letters were originally written to Franz Kappus, a 19-year-old student at the Military Academy of Vienna, of which Rilke was an alumnus. Discouraged by the prospect of military life, Kappus began to send his poetry to the 27-year-old Rilke, seeking both literary criticism and career advice. Their correspondence lasted from 1902 to 1908. In 1929, three years after Rilke's death, Kappus assembled and published the ten letters.

The Letters

Although the first letter from Kappus asked for critiques of his poetry, Rilke gave him very little during their correspondence. He also discouraged Kappus from reading criticism, advising him to trust his inner judgment. Instead, the majority of the letters address personal issues that Kappus revealed to Rilke; their span is tremendous, ranging from atheism, loneliness, sexuality, and career choices.

The First Letter

Written in Paris, France on 17 February, 1903

The Second Letter

Written in Viareggio, Italy on 5 April, 1903

The Third Letter

Written in Viareggio, Italy on 23 April, 1903

The Fourth Letter

Written in Worpswede, Germany on 16 July, 1903

The Fifth Letter

Written in Rome, Italy on 29 October, 1903

The Sixth Letter

Written in Rome, Italy on 23 December, 1903

The Seventh Letter

Written in Rome, Italy on 14 May, 1904

The Eighth Letter

Written in Borgeby gård, Flädie, Sweden on 12 August, 1904

The Ninth Letter

Written in Furuborg, Jonsered, Sweden on 4 November, 1904

The Tenth Letter

Written in Paris, France on 26 December, 1908

References

* [http://www.carrothers.com/rilke_main.htm Online text source 1]
* [http://www.sfgoth.com/~immanis/rilke/letter1.html Online text source 2]


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