About
Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926) was an Austrian poet, widely regarded as one of the greatest German-language lyric poets of the 20th century and a central figure of European literary modernism. Born in Prague, he studied philosophy and art history before traveling to Russia and meeting Auguste Rodin, whose aesthetic influenced his 'thing-poems'. His works include collections such as 'The Book of Hours', 'New Poems', his only novel 'The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge', and his late masterpieces 'Duino Elegies' and 'Sonnets to Orpheus'. He died in Switzerland in 1926.
* 1875-12-04 — † 1926-12-28
Major works
- Das Stunden-Buch (1905)poetry collection
- Neue Gedichte (1907)poetry collection
- Die Aufzeichnungen des Malte Laurids Brigge (1910)novel
- Duineser Elegien (1923)poetry collection
- Die Sonette an Orpheus (1923)poetry collection
Key milestones
- 1897Met Lou Andreas-Salomé, who became a decisive intellectual and artistic influence.
- 1905Became personal secretary to Auguste Rodin in Paris.
- 1922Completed the 'Duino Elegies' and 'Sonnets to Orpheus' at Muzot Castle in Switzerland.
Themes
solitude and existential angstspiritual questnature and beautyart and creationlove and death
Sources: poetryfoundation.org · oxfordreference.com · helveticarchives.admin.ch