Ahead of All Parting

I recently discovered Rilke, and am much the better for it - his craft with words literally gives one goosebumps. The poetry portion of _Ahead of All Parting_ is dual language, so readers of German can enjoy the original as well as Mitchell's translations. The book also contains copious notes about many of the poems (when they were written, what was going on in Rilke's life) as well as a section of his published and unpublished prose, which I found almost as vivid and beautiful as his poetry. The book itself is also physically beautiful - the pages are delicate, further adding to the sensusousness of the reading experience.

I just thought I would clarify that this collection is more comprehensive than The Selected Poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke, also translated by Stephen Mitchell. Ahead of All Parting includes all poems in the aforementioned book and adds many more.

I've read virtually all of the Rilke translations (discovered him browsing in a library in '73 and haven't stopped reading him)and this one truly shines. What is most amazing about Rilke is his ability to make his perceptions your perceptions. Rilke is not easy, especially the later poems, but like all great literature, lanscapes keep opening for more exploration. He really is "the poet's poet." You might start by thumbing to the middle of the book and read the "uncollected poems." I also recommend Rilke's one novel, "The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge," by the same translator (a first person narrative of the life of an impoverised poet in turn of the century Paris) --surreal, intensely psychological, artful.

Of the volumes in my collection of Rilke work, this is the single book I reach for most often. Stephen Mitchell is a master of translation with a consummate feel for nuance that is imperative in poetry translating. For anyone embarked on a personal spiritual journey, reading Rilke is essential. Mitchell, an able guide on such a journey, has selected powerful, insightful works. The first 2-verse poem, "I live my life in widening rings," is alone worthy of years of contemplation. And I never cease to find inspiration and solace in "For the Sake of a Single Poem." I consider "Ahead of All Parting" one of the five most important books I own.

Very few translations of poetry manage to capture not only the content but the "feel" of the original text. Mitchell's rendering of Rilke is one of these rarities: without slavishly imitating Rilke's rhythms or attempting to pin down his sometimes elusive meanings, he's enabled the non-German-speaker to experience Rilke's poetry in spirit as well as sense. (I'm not a Rilke scholar, but I know enough German to read and appreciate the originals.) The notes are useful too -- sometimes an idea that Rilke expressed obliquely in a poem is much clearer in his correspondence! This volume contains all of Rilke's "major" poetry and selections from his prose, so it's a good, reasonably priced introduction to his work. (And the book has a good "feel" too -- heavy paper, clear type, a solid cover -- which is rare in these days of cheap computer-assisted printing!) This book belongs in the library of anyone who's serious about 20th century poetry -- and anyone who appreciates the art of translation.