Letters to a Young Poet (Penguin Classics)

Rilke is such a profound and eloquent writer!! This is by far his best work!! So deep, so profound!! One of the best books, if not the best I’ve ever read!!

I've read this countless times and bring it with me everywhere I go. It's both validating and motivating for a wandering young artist like myself.

I’m stunned.First, a few disclaimers. I’m not a poet or an academic. Likewise, Rilke would likely tell you to put little stock in Amazon reviews as he writes of literary critics the following: “And let me at once make his request: read as little as possible in the way of aesthetics and criticism— it will either be partisan views, fossilized and made meaningless in its lifeless rigidity, or it will be neat wordplay, where one opinion will triumph one day and the opposite the next.”That said, I can only recommend you make the purchase, particularly if you stumbled upon this book. Several passages moved me in a way that has genuinely expanded my interest in both literary works and personal introspection. I’ve included below one of my favorites.There are several translations out there and I’m not in the position to assess one over the other. I can only say I found the language rich and personal. I compared three of my favorite passages to other translations and did not feel disserved by Louth’s work.

Bought new and came damaged

This is a must read for any artist (regardless of medium) and anyone else with a desire to grow. Rilke confronts not only craft, but love, solitude, and more. I gift this to many friends.

I'm a musician - the hastiness that I always felt when I trying to express my feelings is always a harsh and turbulent issue I have to dealt with everyday. And this is the book I seek for advices when I'm overwhelmed.The first time I read this book is when I was seventeen. I'm twenty-six now, and the wise words of Rilke's still comfort me and aid me in my path of pursuing my own expressions. I don't know whether those words will fade eventually or lost their weight in the unpredictable and changeable future, but the gifts I'd received are already proven worthwhile.

One of the more important books in my life. I've read and reread it for over 4 decades. I read Letters for inspiration, for comfort, for sheer pleasure at the lyricism. I've also been buying copies for friends and younger family members for that long.

I bought this as a gift since it had been recommended to me by professors and friends - it has arrived damaged. The inside looks fine but the spine is already cracked (leaving an ugly crease), there is a scratch in the cover that's yellow for some reason, and the the bottom right has what appears to be an oil stain (??) and is creased. The packing is fine so this must have happened before shipment.I don't have time to return this and get a new one since its for someone else.Overall I am very disappointed in the quality of what claimed to be a new book

Excelente estado, conteúdo essencial

Whoever told me to buy this on Instagram, thank you

If you ever wanted a life line from far off to offer support and insight to your solitary path, this would be one of the books to consider.

Great quality, looks as expected.

Aren't any Rilke's letters quotable material? Because I've found his words powerful and full of insights; Rilke is brilliant and humble into his responses to Kappus: unfortunately we can't exactly know what Kappus wrote to him, but through Rilke's explanatory answers we can still find a common thread between one letter and another. There is a lot of ideas and advice for those who want to start writing or love art, life and everything that represents it in this little book. I wish I could exchange letters with Rilke myself.