4.0
The Book of Images
ByPublisher Description
Now substantially revised by Edward Snow, whom Denise Levertov once called "far and away Rilke's best translator," this bilingual edition of The Book of Images contains a number of the great poet's previously untranslated pieces. Also included are several of Rilke's best-loved lyrics, such as "Autumn," "Childhood," "Lament," "Evening," and "Entrance."
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Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communitiesThe Book of Images Reviews
4.0
“Enjoyed this edition! Having the german and English is convenient and a great way to appreciate translation (as I understand german too). There were definitely segments I enjoyed more than others. I prefer his shorter poems, but liked that they were grouped by theme. Last poem was a beautiful dedication.”
“Finishing this book of poetry was by no means an end to reading it. I will undoubtedly be picking this back up and reading it here and there in the future.
Rilke’s language is hypnotic and virtuosic in its imagery and figurative implements. He brings forth images that open up to emotion, and importantly links the often melancholy nature of humanity to daily observation.
Moment to moment, the natural world is never still, and we are never stagnant in our emotions. His ability to interpret and express these complex emotions is truly sublime.
This edition has the German on the left side of the page and the English on the right which was interesting, though I cannot read German, to see how his language rhymes in places where the English does not, and how certain words are used prismatically to represent many ideas or concepts.
Stylistically, I think Gass pulls the most from him, though the beauty and seamless integration of nature with reality is present in Cărtărescu. I believe that Pound utilizes some aspects of what Rilke did though with somewhat less emotionality, particularly in his “Cathay” and his later more narrative poems (perhaps with his societal visions). Despite that I feel that Rilke and Pound could not be more different in their philosophy of life and political leanings (all I'll say).”
About Rainer Maria Rilke
Rainer Maria Rilke was born in Prague in 1875 and traveled throughout Europe for much of his adult life, returning frequently to Paris. There he came under the influence of the sculptor Auguste Rodin and produced much of his finest verse, most notably the two volumes of New Poems as well as the great modernist novel The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge. Among his other books of poems are The Book of Images and The Book of Hours. He lived the last years of his life in Switzerland, where he completed his two poetic masterworks, the Duino Elegies and Sonnets to Orpheus. He died of leukemia in December 1926.
Other books by Rainer Maria Rilke
Edward Snow
Edward Snow is a professor of English at Rice University. He is the recipient of an Academy of Arts and Letters Award for his Rainer Maria Rilke translations and has twice received the Academy of American Poets' Harold Morton Landon Translation Award. He is the author of A Study of Vermeer and Inside Bruegel.
Other books by Edward Snow
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