Letters to a Young Poet

A New Translation and Commentary

By: Rainer Maria Rilke, Anita Barrows - translator, Joanna Macy - translator

Narrated by: Trevor White

A fresh perspective on a beloved classic by acclaimed translators Anita Barrows and Joanna Macy.

German poet Rainer Maria Rilke’s (1875-1926) Letters to a Young Poet has been treasured for nearly a century. Rilke’s personal reflections on the vocation of writing and the experience of living urge an aspiring poet to look inward, while also offering sage wisdom on further issues including gender, solitude, and romantic love. Barrows and Macy’s translation extends this compilation of timeless advice and wisdom to a fresh generation of readers and listeners. With a new introduction and commentary, this edition places the letters in the context of today’s world and the unique challenges we face when seeking authenticity.

©2021 Anita Barrows and Joanna Macy (P)2021 Shambhala Publications

The point of life is to enjoy it

I enjoyed the student and teacher relationship between the two in their correspondence. Instead of a review of the work, it was a life lesson. Go within to find inspiration which is the core for most classic stories we all love today.

Excellent translation and performance

I’ve loved Macy and Barrows’ translations of Rilke’s Book of Hours. Their translations are stunning, and true to the original while being free enough to capture the essence without being bogged down by an over commitment to literal translation. In this book, I feel they capture the spirit of what Rilke is trying to convey.

The text itself is indispensable for anyone on an artistic path. The advice that Rilke offers (at the young age of 27!) is as wise and poignant as his poems. I will buy a physical copy of the book at re read it often.

The narrator is superb - I couldn’t have been happier with the narration!

Shame that whole passages are cut out

It’s unfortunate that the translators did not merely translate but edited passages because they felt that it might convey the wrong message. They express the sentiment that Rilke would agree with their editing because he didn’t have a backspace key. But given that he spent quite a lot of time thinking over the previous letter before responding, it seems to me he very much meant what he wrote. And in the end, none of what they cut out was damning in the least.

There’s a bit of irony in censoring a writer and not allowing readers to form their own opinions in the name of protecting journalistic integrity.

With that said, Rilke still stands out despite the unnecessary edits. This was my first time reading any of his works and I already have a few nuggets to stew on.

Rilke is complex

Rilke is a poet that seems to have Ben given a Devine revelation and had no idea what to do with it. The commentary goes on to flippantly dismiss Rilke’s greatest insights and focus on only promoting what would prop up and justify homosexual sex.

First time reading Rilke

Grateful for this translation, it’s delivery and overall message was greatly needed at this time of my life. Much gratitude to the translators in making it available to me.