Selected Poems and Fragments (Penguin Classics)

Not sure whether I should mention it here as it does not relate to the product as such, but it took ages (some 5 months to get here (South Africa). Courtesy of our postal department. Furthermore, I had to pay in additional customs duty.

A beautiful book!The cover, a detail from a painting by Caspar David Friedrich of Grecian ruins on an island in the mist, sets the tone for this great selection of the tragic early 19th century poet Holderlin's work, illuminated by Michael Hamburger's sensitive translations and lovely introduction.

Overlooked important German poet

Impressive.

Great. Some violence, some sexual content. First person.

Holderlin's writing holds a special place in my heart. I read it over, and over, and over.. there's an honest essence and a heartwarming warmth in it.

As a german reader I must say that the author had made excellent translations. You have the feeling that he translated with heart - very rich in his speech and sometimes surprising. Some verses of Hoelderlin, which are strange and not easy to understand are in his translations clearer and simpler to understand. " But it is the sea / That takes and gives remembrance, / And love no less keeps eyes attentively fixed, / But what is lasting the poets provide" (Remembrance).

I don't have much to say about Holderlin's poetry, which I find a bit stodgy and ungraceful, but I have to say I cannot read it in German, which I believe is a necessary prerequisite to any true read of poetry. I would merely like to share a poem that I found beautiful:SunsetWhere are you? Dazzled, drunken my soul grows faint And dark with so much gladness; for even now I listened while, too rich in golden Sounds, the enrapturing youth, the sun-godIntoned his evening hymn on a heavenly lyre; All round the hills and forests re-echoed it, Though far from here-to pious nations Who still revere him-by now he's journeyed.Wo bist du? Trunken dammert die Seele mir Von aller deiner Wonne; denn eben ist's, Dass ich gelauscht, wie, goldner Tone Voll der entzukende SonnenjunglingSein Abendlied af himmlischer Leyer speilt'; Es tonten rings die Walder und Hugel nach. Doch fern ist er zu frommen Volkern, Die ihn noch ehren, hinweggegangen. (pp 16).Enjoy the archaic read.

naturally the poems are classic and superb requiring repeated readings - they soar - but what is splendid is the translation - it's not cumbersome or stilted like I see sometimes Holderlin's translations are - plus the notes and intro are very good - pertinent and sympathetic to a troubled character - also setting him in context of his times, and of other poetry. excellent

with disjointed the word I would use for the format employed. Look elsewhere if seeking a much clearer presentation of a great writer.

I like Michael Hamburger's translation which lacks poetic conceit and is well judged and clear headed.Holderlin is quite a discovery, not all that well known amongst most British poetry aficionados, I find.Against a background of the possibility of psychosis, the fragmentation of some of the Hymns is interesting. Speaking personally, I preferred the earlier or indeed later works. But again and again he hits the nail on the head in describing his (and our) existential impoverishment and despair . Quite remarkable for a man writing at the very beginning of the process of industrial/post industrial mayhem whose now all too familiar horrors he could barely have imagined.Some of his imagery and the articulation of his brilliantly rich and evocative lines is astounding.A healing balm for the deep festering wounds of contemporary alienation, from a man who walked the walk,,,,

The most disappointing purchase among all the books I've ordered till date. Pages torn in the middle of the book.

This is a good collection of Hölderlin's works. I would recommend this version for those who need to read or are just interested in reading Hölderlin's poetry.