Hymns and Fragments - (Lockert Library of Poetry in Translation) by Friedrich Hölderlin (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

The acclaimed translation of Hölderlin's radical and influential late poetry--now in a revised new edition

Friedrich Hölderlin (1770-1843) was one of Europe's first great modern poets, and Richard Sieburth's acclaimed translation of the German Romantic's late work has long been the standard. In this volume, Sieburth presents a revised version of the celebrated Hymns and Fragments, which gathers almost all the poet's work in free rhythms from the years between 1801 and 1806, the period just before he was confined to a mental hospital. This translation captures the radical idiom and vision that continue to make Hölderlin a contemporary. Sieburth's critical introduction discusses the poet's career, assesses his role as the link between classicism and romanticism, and explores his importance to modern poetics and philosophy.

Review Quotes

"[Sieburth] has set out to represent the movement, the rush and swirl of Hölderlin's verse, his fast-spilling lines, and he seems to me to have succeeded remarkably well."---W. S. Merwin, New York Times Book Review

About the Author

Friedrich Hölderlin was a German poet, philosopher, novelist, and translator. Richard Sieburth is a prolific translator and editor and professor emeritus of French and comparative literature at New York University. He won the PEN Award for Poetry in Translation for Henri Michaux's A Certain Plume.