The first-ever English translation of Rilke’s landmark poetry cycle, by Vita and Edward Sackville-West – reissued for the first time in 90 years In 1931, Virginia and Leonard Woolf’s Hogarth Press published a small run of a beautiful edition of Rainer Maria Rilke’s Duino Elegies, in English translation by the writers Vita and Edward Sackville-West. This marked the English debut of Rilke’s masterpiece, which would eventually be rendered in English over 20 times, influencing countless poets, musicians and artists across the English-speaking world. Published for the first time in 90 years, the Sackville-Wests’ translation is both a fascinating historical document and a magnificent blank-verse rendering of Rilke’s poetry cycle. Featuring a new introduction from critic Lesley Chamberlain, this reissue casts one of European literature’s great masterpieces in fresh light.
Rainer Maria Rilke
Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926) was a Bohemian-Austrian poet and novelist known for his lyrical and introspective writing style. His most notable works include "Letters to a Young Poet" and "Duino Elegies." Rilke's poetry often explores themes of love, loss, and the search for meaning in a fragmented world. He is considered a pioneer of modernist poetry and has had a significant influence on the development of 20th-century literature. His most famous work is "The Sonnets to Orpheus." Rilke's unique perspective and profound insights continue to resonate with readers around the world.