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.