Rilke: Poems: Edited by Peter Washington

This small book packs a wonderful selection of Rilke's poetry... I have had the book for many years and revisit it frequently; it is a great gift to friends, providing an excellent introduction to Rilke's poetry... Much has been written on the particular challenges of translating Rilke; from capturing the subtle flows and associations of his poetry, to rendering it accessible, to interpreting its many meanings accurately. This translation provides one of the finest capture of Rilke's poetry. It is very vivid, pleasant to read and often sheds light on difficult parts, retaining the multiple meanings of the original. I particularly like the translation of the Duino Elegies, my all-time favorite poems; indeed, I compared this translation line by line with several others and feel its interpretation of the Elegies is most illuminating.

The 'Everyman' volumes provide a selection of the poet's work. Small and elegant editions which perhaps especially with Rilke give the kind of feeling the poet would like one to have i.e. of having a precious object in one's hand. But this is for sampling and tasting. To know to really know a poet like Rilke one should take the greatest work, 'Duino Elegies' 'Sonnets to Orpheus' and read them as a whole. Yet this edition gives a real 'feeling' of what the poet is, and will provide the reader a sense of whether they wish to go deeper in exploration of the poet's world.