Duino Elegies
One of the literary masterpieces of the century, this translation is now presented with facing-page German.\ We have a marvelous, almost legendary, image of the circumstances in which the composition of this great poem began. Rilke was staying at a castle (Duino) on the sea near Trieste. One morning he walked out on the battlements and climbed down to where the rocks dropped sharply to the sea. From out of the wind, which was blowing with great force, Rilke seemed to hear a voice: Wer, wenn...
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A new translation of the great Rilke cycle of poems.The New Republic - Brian PhillipsFor a decade and a half...snow has gradually been building a reputation as Rilke's best contemporary translator in English. His version of the Elegies should cement that reputation, and elevate it: Snow may be the best translator that Rilke has ever had.
Who, if I cried out, would hear me among the angelic\ orders? And even if one of them pressed me\ suddenly to his heart: I'd be consumed\ in his stronger existence. For beauty is nothing\ but the beginning of terror, which we can just barely endure,\ and we stand in awe of it as it coolly disdains\ to destroy us. Every angel is terrifying.\ -from "The First Elegy"
Translator's Note 7Introduction 9Die erste Elegie 14The First Elegy 15Die zweite Elegie 22The Second Elegy 23Die dritte Elegie 28The Third Elegy 29Die vierte Elegie 36The Fourth Elegy 37Die funfte Elegie 42The Fifth Elegy 43Die sechste Elegie 50The Sixth Elegy 51Die siebente Elegie 54The Seventh Elegy 55Die achte Elegie 62The Eighth Elegy 63Die neunte Elegie 68The Ninth Elegy 69Die zehnte Elegie 74The Tenth Elegy 75Commentary 83
\ Brian PhillipsFor a decade and a half...snow has gradually been building a reputation as Rilke's best contemporary translator in English. His version of the Elegies should cement that reputation, and elevate it: Snow may be the best translator that Rilke has ever had.\ —The New Republic\ \ \ \ \ BooknewsWaterfield who received a doctorate in classics and English literature at Christ Church, Oxford and has worked as a music instructor in the UK and Germany, offers what he considers a poetic, rather than literal, translation of Rainer Marie Rilke's "The Duino Elegies." A brief introduction to Rilke and this collection of poems, is followed by both the original German and English translation of the ten elegies, with additional introductions before each poem. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)\ \
