Rainer Maria Rilke's Duino Elegies are one of the great literary masterpieces of the twentieth
century. Begun in 1912 while the poet was a guest at Duino Castle on the Adriatic Sea and
completed in a final bout of feverish inspiration in 1922 the ten elegies survey the mysteries
of consciousness whether human or animal earthly or divine. Poet and translator Alfred Corn
offers a fresh take on this cornerstone of German lyric poetry bringing us closer to Rilke's
meaning than ever before and illuminating the elegies' celebration of life and love. Also
included are a critical introduction exploring the nuances of the translation several
thematically linked lyrics and two of the Letters to a Young Poet to complete the volume.
