Reviewed by Christina Ding, a writer.

How exciting it must have been for 19-year-old aspiring poet Franz Xaver Kappus to write to Rainer Maria Rilke—a widely recognized German-language poet and novelist and one of his greatest literary inspirations—and receive a response! 

So began a correspondence from 1902 to 1908, encompassed in part by Letters to a Young Poet, the epistolary novel containing Rilke’s advice to Kappus. In it, readers follow Rilke’s travels physically, through explorations of Europe, and intellectually, through his creative process and personal philosophies. Letters to a Young Poet can be compared to a manual for living, replete with thoughtful, poetic language and good-natured guidance. 

It’s no secret that we often find ourselves searching for external validation in today’s world. To that end, Rilke stresses again and again in Letters to a Young Poet that people should celebrate struggles, noting that the value of art is derived from within. This is first observed in the opening letter of the book, which comprises a reply to Kappus’ first letter requesting evaluation of his verses. “Nobody can counsel and help you. Nobody,” Rilke responds. Rather, he urges Kappus to ask himself if he “would have to die if it were denied [him] to write.” For Rilke, the worthwhile question is this: “Must I write?” Direct and sincere, Rilke’s words are both relatable and informative. His somewhat counterintuitive attitude applies to not only artists but virtually anyone finding their footing in life. As Rilke and Kappus’ exchange progresses, Rilke further communicates his thoughts on navigating human life and destiny, exploring the inevitability of solitude. 

Some of Rilke’s advice may seem unrealistic, and the letters can feel redundant. Yet this only makes the book more authentic: readers understand that Rilke’s own struggles inform his ideals. Reading Rilke’s letters reveals how he himself wanted to approach living a fulfilling life, showing what readers should strive for, even if circumstances deny it. 

Rilke’s unwavering sensitivity makes Letters to a Young Poet a meaningful read for anyone, from discouraged artists in existential crises to scrambling teenagers tackling college applications. The book is short, but its content is dense—Rilke’s carefully worded prose urges readers to slow down in the bustle of everyday life. After all, as Kappus aptly notes in the introduction, the letters are important “for many growing and evolving spirits of today and tomorrow.”