The Rilke Alphabet

Ulrich Baer’s “The Rilke Alphabet” will surprise and delight established fans of Rilke, intrigue newcomers, and convince all readers of the power of poetry to penetrate the mysteries and confusion of our world. The book draws on its author’s profound and life-long engagement with Rilke as a scholar, translator and editor to offer 26 self-contained, highly engaging and incisive reflections on Rilke’s enduring appeal for contemporary readers. The essays cover overlooked and controversial topics, from deceptively minor topics such as Rilke’s affection for frogs and old maids to the great questions also addressed in his work, of faith, sexuality, race, politics, and death. “The Rilke Alphabet” draws readers in by taking seriously each and every one of Rilke’s words, and by explaining the larger context and significance of Rilke’s work without ever losing this original sense of surprise, discovery, and intrigue.