Explores the importance of Russia in shaping Rilke's aesthetics. Rilke's two trips to Russia at the turn of the century, made in the company of Lou Andreas-Salome, led to connections with Leo Tolstoy, Boris Pasternak, Marina Tsvetaeva, and Maxim Gorky.
The exploration of Rilke's aesthetics is deeply intertwined with his experiences in Russia, particularly during his two trips with Lou Andreas-Salome. These journeys fostered connections with notable figures like Tolstoy, Pasternak, Tsvetaeva, and Gorky. Anna A. Tavis utilizes letters, poems, and fiction to illuminate Rilke's real and symbolic interactions with Russian culture and its literary giants from 1898 to 1926, highlighting the significant influence of these encounters on his work.