Georg Trakl Libri

The work of poet Georg Trakl has been praised by many, including his contemporaries Rainer Maria Rilke and Else Lasker-Schüler, as well as his patron Ludwig Wittgenstein who famously wrote that while he did not truly understand Trakl’s poems, they had the tone of a ‘truly ingenious person’, which pleased him. This selection gathers Trakl’s early, middle and late words, none of it published in book form during his lifetime, ranging from his haunting prose pieces to his darkly beautiful poems documenting the first bloody weeks of the First World War on the Eastern Front. It also includes translations of unpublished poems and significant variants. Interpolated through this comprehensive and chronological selection is a biographical essay that provides more information about Trakl’s gifted and troubled life, especially as it relates to his poetry, as well as the necessary context of his relationship with his sister Grete, whose role as a muse to her brother remains controversial. Trakl’s life was mysterious and fascinating, as is his unmissable poetry in A Skeleton Plays Violin. --

The work of poet Georg Trakl, a leading Austrian-German expressionist, has been praised by many, including his contemporaries Rainer Maria Rilke and Else Lasker-Schüler, as well as his patron Ludwig Wittgenstein, who famously wrote that while he did not truly understand Trakl's poems, they had the tone of a "truly ingenious person," which pleased him. This difficulty in understanding Trakl's poems is not unique. Since the first publication of his work in 1913, there has been endless discussion about how the verses should be understood, leading to controversies over the most accurate way to translate them. In a refreshing contrast to previous translated collections of Trakl's work, James Reidel is mindful of how the poet himself wished to be read, emphasizing the order and content of the verses to achieve a musical effect. Trakl's verses were also marked by allegiance to both the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, a fact which Reidel honors with impressive research into the historicity of the poet's language. Collected Poems gathers Trakl's early, middle, and late work, ranging widely, from his haunting prose pieces to his darkly beautiful poems documenting the first bloody weeks of World War I on the Eastern Front.

Now back in print, the poems of Georg Trakl have been championed by Rilke, Bly, Wright, and Wittgenstein.

"Poems" is a translation of Georg Trakl's first verse collection, published in 1913, which quickly established him as a prominent figure in Austrian German Expressionism. His work garnered praise from contemporaries like Rainer Maria Rilke and Else Lasker-Schüler, and he received patronage from Ludwig Wittgenstein, who noted the pleasing "tone" of Trakl's poetry, despite not fully understanding it. This blend of pleasure and perplexity continues to characterize the reading of Trakl today, reflecting the ongoing interest in his work and its influence, particularly in translation. Various interpretations of Trakl's poetry have emerged, with each translation akin to scaling a "blue glass mountain" to uncover the "correct" understanding of his verses. This fresh translation marks the first volume in James Reidel's "Our Trakl," commemorating the centenary of Trakl's death in 1914 during World War I. Unlike previous collections, Reidel carefully curates the order and content to evoke a specific effect and musicality, honoring Trakl's artistic vision and his connection to two centuries. The second volume will feature Trakl's second book, "Sebastian Dreaming," with a third volume of poetry and prose to follow.

In an Abandoned Room is a new collection of poems by Georg Trakl.

Georg Trakl's poetry, marked by its unique voice, attracted a diverse audience, including influential philosophers like Heidegger and Wittgenstein, as well as notable writers such as Beckett, Rilke, and Walser. His work also resonated with composers Webern and Hindemith, highlighting its profound impact across various artistic disciplines. Trakl's brief life (1887-1914) and the depth of his expression continue to inspire admiration and analysis in literary and philosophical circles.

This bilingual edition presents the comprehensive verse of Austrian poet Georg Trakl, known for his intense originality and autumnal, melancholic tone. His work, admired by figures like Rilke and Wittgenstein, reflects the spiritual turmoil of pre-World War I Europe, marking a transition from impressionism to expressionism.

A new translation by acclaimed poet Will Stone of the visionary Austrian poet Georg Trakl In Georg Trakl's brief, tragic life he produced a body of work of intense visual power. Dense, imagistic and full of unnerving symbolism, his poems occupy a critical place in German Expressionism. Until his death on the Eastern Front in 1914, Trakl honed a singular poetic voice to express the horror he saw in the world around him, culminating in the starkly powerful war poems for which he is best known. This edition includes all of Trakl's major poems alongside a judicious selection of the best of his uncollected work, all rendered in vividly clear English by translator and poet Will Stone. With a biography, a critical introduction and a chronology of Trakl's life, this collection promises to reinvigorate interest in this under-appreciated poet.