Rilke on Love and Other Difficulties: Translations and Considerations

An anthology of Rilke's strongest poetry and prose for both aficionados and new readers.

Here is a mini-anthology of poetry and prose for both aficionados and those readers discovering Rainer Maria Rilke for the first time. John J. L. Mood has assembled a collection of Rilke's strongest work, presenting commentary along with the selections. Mood links into an essay passages from letters that show Rilke's profound understanding of men and women and his ardent spirituality, rooted in the senses.

Combining passion and sensitivity, the poems on love presented here are often not only sensual but sexual as well. Others pursue perennial themes in his work—death and life, growth and transformation. The book concludes with Rilke's reflections on wisdom and openness to experience, on grasping what is most difficult and turning what is most alien into that which we can most trust.

Customer Reviews:

Eloquent Meditations on Art and Life

By A Customer - March 27, 2000

I recieved this book as a gift many years ago and it has been with me ever since. There are passages in this book that can be read through out life and never lose their initial power on the reader. I particularly liked Blood Rememberings and Dragon Princess. Among best and most intense essays on the making of art.

Self Discovery For The Strong Willed

By P. Moulds - May 23, 2000

Approximately 1 year ago, I was introduced to Rilke. Since then I have purchased a few of his books. This is one of my favorites, at this point in my life. He seems to have this way of reaching into your inner soul and grabbing a hold of your reality and making you face it, in a very non-threatening, passionate sort of way. I would highly recommend this book to anyone on a self-discovery path.

"The point is to live everything"

By Shalom Freedman "Shalom Freedman" - July 6, 2006

"Do not seek the answers which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now." Perhaps then without noticing it everything will resolve gradually along some distant day into the answer."

Rilke is a poet who brings mystery and existensial questioning into every rich and suggestive line he writes. His poetry is ripe and weighted with meaning.

In this small book there are selections from his letters, in which he spontaneously reflects on Love as he addresses intimately his correspondents. There are too his poems on Love whose metaphoric questioning and ambiguity also seem to bring the reader into a poetic space of special mystery and beauty.

"The more one is, the more abundant is everything one experiences. If you want to have a deep love in your life, you must save up for it and collect and gather honey."

Rilke's own personal love life bears not only the mark of his... read more