Rilke: The Life of the Work

The Life of the Work is a book that explores the life of Rilkes work, addressing questions of what a poem is, how it acts upon us as we read, and what reading involves. It traces the trajectory of Rilkes writing in a series of close readings that include lesser-known and uncollected verse and his activity as a translator. The book emphasizes that Rilkes writing is a concentrated and evolving exploration of the possibilities of poetic language, a working of the life of words into precise and exacting forms in dialogue with the texture of the world. One of his best-known poems ends with the words, 'You must change your life,' an injunction that animates the whole of his work.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 656 pages
Publication date: 27 April 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press

The essence of Rilkes work lies in the very words he chose to use, and this book pays meticulous attention to the life that unfolded through his words throughout his career. Rilke was deeply interested in exploring the nature of poetry and how it affects us as readers. He delved into these questions through numerous poems, seeking to understand the essence of reading and its unique impact on our perception of the world.

Reading, for Rilke, was not just a passive act; it was an interactive experience that allowed him to engage with the world in a different way. He believed that the act of reading provided an opportunity for recalibration, a way of re-attuning our senses to the world around us. Unlike other forms of experience, reading offered Rilke a unique way of connecting with the world, a way of forging a deeper understanding of it.

Rilkes writing is often approached in distinct periods, such as the New Poems, Malte, Duino Elegies, or Sonnets to Orpheus. However, it is important to recognize that his writing is a continuous and evolving exploration of the possibilities of poetic language. He worked tirelessly to refine and shape the life of words into precise and exacting forms, engaging in a dialogue with the texture of the world.

The Life of the Work follows this trajectory through a series of close readings that encompass not only Rilkes well-known and collected verse but also the lesser-known and unpublished poems, as well as his work as a translator. These encounters were integral to Rilkes engagement with the world, as they allowed him to extend the reach of his language and bring it ever closer to the ungraspable movements, the risks, and the promises of life itself.

One of Rilkes most famous poems, "You Must Change Your Life," serves as a testament to the enduring influence of his work. This poem ends with the injunction, "You must change your life," an injunction that animates the entirety of his work. It serves as a reminder that poetry is not just a form of art but a call to action, a catalyst for personal transformation and growth.

In conclusion, the life of Rilkes work is a testament to the power of words and the transformative potential of poetry. Through his meticulous attention to the life unfolding in his words, Rilke offered us a glimpse into the nature of poetry and its unique ability to connect us with the world. His writing is a concentrated and evolving exploration of the possibilities of poetic language, a working of the life of words into precise and exacting forms in dialogue with the texture of the world. By engaging with Rilkes work, we are invited to recalibrate our ways of attending to the world, to forge a deeper understanding of it, and to embrace the transformative power of poetry.

Weight: 984g
Dimension: 154 x 235 x 38 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198885559