
Rainer Maria Rilke
1875 - 1926
Born in Prague, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary (now Czech Republic)
Rainer Maria Rilke was a Bohemian-Austrian poet and novelist. He is widely recognized as one of the most lyrically intense German-language poets. His writings include one novel, several collections of poetry, and several volumes of correspondence. His best-known works include the poetry collections "Duino Elegies" and "Sonnets to Orpheus," the semi-autobiographical novel "The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge," and a collection of ten letters published after his death under the title "Letters to a Young Poet." Rilke's poetic style was highly introspective and engaged deeply with questions of beauty, suffering, solitude, and the profound challenges of connecting with others. His work has influenced generations of poets, and he is frequently ranked as one of the most significant poets of the early 20th century.
“The only journey is the one within.”
Notable Works
Timeline
Born in Prague, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary
Parents separated; sent to military academy
Left military academy due to poor health
Studied literature, art history, and philosophy in Prague
Met Lou Andreas-Salomé, who became a significant influence
First journey to Russia with Lou Andreas-Salomé
Second journey to Russia, met Leo Tolstoy
Moved to Paris to work as secretary for sculptor Auguste Rodin
Published "The Book of Hours"
Published "The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge"
Began writing "Duino Elegies" at Duino Castle
Moved to Switzerland
Completed "Duino Elegies" and wrote "Sonnets to Orpheus"
Published "Duino Elegies" and "Sonnets to Orpheus"
Died of leukemia in Montreux, Switzerland
Works
Notable Quote
The only journey is the one within.
Rainer Maria Rilke
Influences
- Auguste Rodin
- Lou Andreas-Salomé
- Russian literature
- Romanticism
- Visual arts
Achievements
- Considered one of the most significant poets in the German language
- His work has been translated into numerous languages
- Influenced generations of poets and writers
- Developed a unique style that bridged traditional and modernist poetry