» Letters to a Young Poet is my bible. Someone gave it to me when I started acting. I read it over and over again.« Dustin Hoffman

In 1902, Rainer Maria Rilke received a letter from a young man, Franz Xaver Kappus, a 19-year-old officer cadet with a talent for literature. Kappus was unsure which direction to take in life and therefore sought advice from the great poet, who was only a few years his senior. Instead of settling for a simple answer, Rilke followed up with a profound and detailed explanation of why it is so temptingand also so harmfulto rely on the opinions and advice of others when one wishes to become the person one truly is. While the views of others can point one in a direction, according to Rilke, they distract from one's own true calling.

The collection of Rilke's letters, published in 1929, marked an era and has inspired entire generations time and again. Even if you feel no inclination to become a poet, the advice to align every aspect of your life with the meaning you wish to give it is deeply empowering. It is a simple encouragement to overcome the hardest things in life in order to become who you are.

• Ein Buch für alle, die Rat suchen
• Ein Wegbegleiter durch das Leben
• » Letters to a Young Poet is my bible. Someone gave it to me when I started acting. I read it over and over again.« Dustin Hoffman

Autorentext
Rainer Maria Rilke wurde am 4. Dezember 1875 in Prag geboren. Nach dem Abbruch der Militärschule studierte er Literatur, Kunstgeschichte und Philosophie in Prag, München und Berlin und schrieb Gedichte. Nach einer Liaison mit der verheirateten Lou Andreas-Salomé heiratete er 1901 Clara Westhoff, die Scheidung folgte schon im folgenden Jahr. Aus Geldnot nahm Rilke Auftragsarbeiten an und reiste 1902 nach Paris, wo das Gedicht Der Panther entstand. Rilke unternahm Reisen nach Nordafrika, Ägypten und Spanien. Rilkes Tagebuchroman Die Aufzeichnungen des Malte Laurids Brigge wurde 1910 veröffentlicht. 1919 siedelte er in die Schweiz über. In den 1920er Jahren erkrankte er an Leukämie und verstarb schließlich am 29. Dezember 1926 im Sanatorium Valmont bei Montreux in der Schweiz. Rainer Maria Rilke ist einer der bedeutendsten Lyriker deutscher Sprache. Seit dem Jahr 1900 ist er Autor des Insel Verlages, sein Werk wird hier geschlossen betreut.

Klappentext

'Letters to a Young Poet is my bible. Someone gave it to me when I started acting. I read it over and over again.' Dustin Hoffman

In 1902, Rainer Maria Rilke received a letter from a young man, Franz Xaver Kappus, a 19-year-old officer cadet with a talent for literature. Kappus was unsure which direction to take in life and therefore sought advice from the great poet, who was only a few years his senior. Instead of settling for a simple answer, Rilke followed up with a profound and detailed explanation of why it is so tempting-and also so harmful-to rely on the opinions and advice of others when one wishes to become the person one truly is. While the views of others can point one in a direction, according to Rilke, they distract from one's own true calling.

The collection of Rilke's letters, published in 1929, marked an era and has inspired entire generations time and again. Even if you feel no inclination to become a poet, the advice to align every aspect of your life with the meaning you wish to give it is deeply empowering. It is a simple encouragement to overcome the hardest things in life in order to become who you are.