Who?
René Karl Wilhelm Johann Josef Maria Rilke a.k.a Rainer Maria Rilke
When?
Was born on 4th December 1875 and died on 29th December 1926 at the age of 51. His most famous works, ‘Sonnets to Orpheus’ and ‘Duino Elegies’ were both written in 1922.
Where? 
He was born in Prague, Bohemia. He then studed Literature, Art History and Philosophy in both Prague and Munich. He travelled several times to Russia in 1897. He then moved to an artists colony in Worpswede, Germany and after getting married, moved to Paris in 1902. He then left Paris and went to Duino, Italty, where he began the ‘Duino Elegies’. Rilke was called up in 1916, and was trained in Vienna. After leaving the army later that year he spent a long time in Munich. Rilke then travelled from Munich to Switzerland, where he died.
What?
Rilke is one of my favourite poets. Arguably the most influential German poets of all time. He is famous for the beauty of his writings.
The fact that the works retain their beauty through translation is arguably because Rilke was also a philosopher.
Rilke’s writings have been referenced in a lot of modern media, including J.D Salinger’s ‘Franny and Zooey’, Niffenegger’s ‘Time Traveller’s Wife’ and even the 2001 film Kissing Jessica Stein.
I love the ‘Duino Elegies’ and ‘Sonnets to Orpheus’, so here’s a few of my favourite Rilke quotes…
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