A review of "Letters to a Young Poet" — 22 weeks ago
This particular book was a birthday gift from a dear friend of mine. It seemed to be one of those books that was always on the favourites list of writers and other creative people, sparking my interest. I also enjoyed Rilke’s Sonnets of Orpheus and rather imagined this book was a book of letters in a rather lyric style to a generic young poet.
I was mistaken. This is actually a non-fiction book of correspondence—ten letters Rilke wrote to a young poet by the name of Franz Kappus after being contacted by the admiring latter.
The book left me with rather mixed feelings. Not in any bad sort of way. Most of it was simply that I had heard all of the best parts quoted already and most of the rest of it was too specific to be of any value to me as a writer. Nevertheless, I found it interesting to learn more about the man himself and glimpses into the way he worked. Despite (or perhaps because of) having very little education, he still came across as deeply philosophical, the kind of person that reflects at length on things and strives his utmost best to live his life according to the greater purpose he has perceived.
The book is divided into two sections—one containing the ten letters by Rilke spanning from 1903-8 and the other containing a biography, detailing the events of Rilke’s life during the time he was writing these letters and what he was working on. Although interesting, I didn’t find the biography shed any great light on the letters, except to perhaps explain in a little more detail the constant changes in the writer’s location.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed it, probably due in part to Rilke’s deep devotion to his work. And also for the letters which in themselves seem like an artform and one that has all but died out today, a century later.
