The Poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke
Rainer Maria Rilke
René Karl Wilhelm Johann Josef Maria Rilke was born into a troubled marriage on the 4th December 1875 in Prague, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. His mother, having previously lost a baby girl, would dress the young boy up in girl’s clothing. Later his father dispatched him to a military academy at age 10 but after a miserable 5 years the young Rilke left due to illness and instead entered first Prague and then Munich and finally Berlin university to study art history, philosophy and literature.
His initial forays into literature was in poetry. His intense, mystical and lyrical style was much admired and over time inspired many in succeeding generations.
His short prose collection ‘Stories of God’, written in an impassioned burst over several nights was published in 1900 and offers a beguiling view of much of Rilke’s influences and outlook.
The following year he married the pioneering sculptor and artist Clara Westhoff. The union produced one child, a daughter Ruth.
He lived in Paris for most of the Century’s first decade where he mixed with many great minds of the time. Although he continued to write he also worked as a secretary to the sculptor, Rodin.
It was only after they settled in Switzerland in 1919 that his writing output was in full flow. Here he wrote profusely in both German and French, which included much on his previous travels, his left-wing sympathies, his religious and existential thoughts, all part of a unique and consummate style.
From 1923 on, Rilke increasingly struggled with his health which was now in constant decline and often spent time rehabilitating at a sanatorium.
Rainer Maria Rilke died of leukaemia on the 29th December 1926 in Montreux, Switzerland. He was 51.
Author - Rainer Maria Rilke.
Narrator - Robert Maskell.
Published Date - Friday, 03 January 2025.
Copyright - © 2025 Deadtree Publishing ©.
Location:
United States
Description:
René Karl Wilhelm Johann Josef Maria Rilke was born into a troubled marriage on the 4th December 1875 in Prague, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. His mother, having previously lost a baby girl, would dress the young boy up in girl’s clothing. Later his father dispatched him to a military academy at age 10 but after a miserable 5 years the young Rilke left due to illness and instead entered first Prague and then Munich and finally Berlin university to study art history, philosophy and literature. His initial forays into literature was in poetry. His intense, mystical and lyrical style was much admired and over time inspired many in succeeding generations. His short prose collection ‘Stories of God’, written in an impassioned burst over several nights was published in 1900 and offers a beguiling view of much of Rilke’s influences and outlook. The following year he married the pioneering sculptor and artist Clara Westhoff. The union produced one child, a daughter Ruth. He lived in Paris for most of the Century’s first decade where he mixed with many great minds of the time. Although he continued to write he also worked as a secretary to the sculptor, Rodin. It was only after they settled in Switzerland in 1919 that his writing output was in full flow. Here he wrote profusely in both German and French, which included much on his previous travels, his left-wing sympathies, his religious and existential thoughts, all part of a unique and consummate style. From 1923 on, Rilke increasingly struggled with his health which was now in constant decline and often spent time rehabilitating at a sanatorium. Rainer Maria Rilke died of leukaemia on the 29th December 1926 in Montreux, Switzerland. He was 51. Author - Rainer Maria Rilke. Narrator - Robert Maskell. Published Date - Friday, 03 January 2025. Copyright - © 2025 Deadtree Publishing ©.
Language:
English
Chapter 1
Duration:00:02:32
Chapter 2
Duration:00:00:09
Chapter 3
Duration:00:00:50
Chapter 4
Duration:00:00:53
Chapter 5
Duration:00:00:58
Chapter 6
Duration:00:01:00
Chapter 7
Duration:00:01:15
Chapter 8
Duration:00:00:39
Chapter 9
Duration:00:00:58
Chapter 10
Duration:00:00:57
Chapter 11
Duration:00:00:45
Chapter 12
Duration:00:01:19
Chapter 13
Duration:00:00:34
Chapter 14
Duration:00:00:48
Chapter 15
Duration:00:01:01
Chapter 16
Duration:00:01:05
Chapter 17
Duration:00:01:05
Chapter 18
Duration:00:00:42
Chapter 19
Duration:00:00:43
Chapter 20
Duration:00:00:40
Chapter 21
Duration:00:00:54
Chapter 22
Duration:00:01:00
Chapter 23
Duration:00:01:42
Chapter 24
Duration:00:00:47
Chapter 25
Duration:00:01:07
Chapter 26
Duration:00:01:09
Chapter 27
Duration:00:01:02
Chapter 28
Duration:00:00:51
Chapter 29
Duration:00:01:19
Chapter 30
Duration:00:01:10
Chapter 31
Duration:00:01:10
Chapter 32
Duration:00:00:42
Chapter 33
Duration:00:00:43
Chapter 34
Duration:00:00:26
Chapter 35
Duration:00:01:13
Chapter 36
Duration:00:00:30
Chapter 37
Duration:00:01:38
Chapter 38
Duration:00:00:58
Chapter 39
Duration:00:00:54
Chapter 40
Duration:00:00:41
Chapter 41
Duration:00:00:56
Chapter 42
Duration:00:00:56
Chapter 43
Duration:00:01:13
Chapter 44
Duration:00:01:00
Chapter 45
Duration:00:00:40
Chapter 46
Duration:00:00:52
Chapter 47
Duration:00:01:05
Chapter 48
Duration:00:00:51
Chapter 49
Duration:00:01:16
Chapter 50
Duration:00:00:58
Chapter 51
Duration:00:01:17
Chapter 52
Duration:00:08:24