Letters to a Young Poet

“Letters to a Young Poet” is a collection of ten letters written by Rainer Maria Rilke to Franz Xaver Kappus, a 19-year-old officer cadet at the Theresian Military Academy in Wiener Neustadt. The letters were written between 1902 and 1908 and offer insight into the ideas and themes that appear in Rilke’s poetry and his working process. Clarified that Rilke declined to provide criticism or advice, rather than not being able to. There is only one way. Go into yourself.” 1 The letters are a must-read for anyone interested in poetry or literature.