Table of Contents

Chronology; Introduction Karen Leeder and Robert Vilain; Part I. Life: 1. Rilke: a biographical exploration Rüdiger Görner; 2. The status of the correspondence in Rilke's work Ulrich Baer; Part II. Works: 3. Early poems Charlie Louth; 4. The new poems William Waters; 5. The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge Andreas Huyssen; 6. The Duino Elegies Kathleen L. Komar; 7. The Sonnets to Orpheus Thomas Martinec; Part III. Cultural Contexts, Influences, Reception: 8. Rilke and modernism Andreas Kramer; 9. Rilke as reader Robert Vilain; 10. Rilke and the visual arts Helen Bridge; 11. Rilke: thought and mysticism Paul Bishop; 12. Rilke and his philosophical critics Anthony Phelan; 13. Rilke's legacy in the English-speaking world Karen Leeder; Appendix: poem titles; Guide to further reading; Index; Index to Rilke's works.

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A collection of specially commissioned essays providing an overview of the life, works and contexts of this important modernist poet.

About the Author

Karen Leeder is Professor of Modern German Literature at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of New College. Robert Vilain is Professor of German and Comparative Literature at Royal Holloway, University of London.