This volume of Rilke's letters covers the years from the completion of
The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge
to Rilke's death in December 1926, nearly five years after he had written the
Duino Elegies
and the
Sonnets to Orpheus
, his last major works.
There are important letters here to Muzot, Lou Andreas-Salome, to Princess Marie of Thurn and Taxis Hohenlohe, and many others. The most significant of the
Wartime Letters: 1914-1921
are also included. An Introduction briefly traces the development of Rilke's work during these years; the Notes provide the necessary framework of biographical details and point up significant references to the poetry.