NEW YORK - s4story -- Long secret, Rilke's The Testament, which remained unpublished even in Germany until 1974, illuminates the seemingly fallow period between the Duino Elegies and The Sonnets to Orpheus.

As a significant work in its own right, The Testament constitutes the major poetic work of Rilke's interwar crises, writing experiments that led to the cracking open of his impasse, the secret key between the Elegies and the Sonnets.

Since The Testament only began to be translated into other languages (French, Spanish, Dutch, and most recently, Italian) much later in time, due to its obscurity, it is hardly known and rarely referred to. Written during the time of Rilke's affair with Baladine Klossowska, the mother of Balthus (referred to in the text), and his enduring friendship with Lou Andreas-Salomé, another former lover.

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While the existing translations (French, Spanish, Dutch, Italian) have only The Testament itself, our edition includes other related essays, as well the complete "From the Literary Estate of Count C.W." poem cycle, all of which date to the time period of the dark interregnum between the Elegies and the Sonnets.

In honor of the 150th anniversary of Rilke's birth (December 4), and one year in advance of the 100th anniversary of his death, this text finally makes its way into book form in English. As one of the few Rilke texts yet to be translated into English, this is a momentous publication, if not perhaps one of the most significant of the decade.

Read the synopsis and download a free sample of The Testament (& Other Texts) here:

https://www.contramundumpress.com/the-testament