The freedom of Rainer Maria Rilke kaleidoscoped in a (self-)contemplation by Lou Andreas-Salomé

TWO RILKE MEMORIAL YEARS!

2025: 150th birthday

2026: 100th anniversary of his death

To interpret Rilke's immense oeuvre, philosopher, author and publicist Hans Christian Meiser, who wrote his doctorate on Rilke, takes on the role of Lou Andreas-Salomé, the famous poet's great love.

In a (self-)portrayal, he kaleidoscopes Rilke's search for the implicit experience of subjective freedom through her eyes – and he does this based on the three major themes of Rilke's life: “Creative solitude”, “Own death” and “Love without possession”. From his contemplation, a new image emerges of the man who, like no other artist-philosopher, knew how to define the fleeting nature of all existence: “For there is nowhere to stay.”

Few writers have influenced the literary, cultural and intellectual history of the 20th century as much as the poet Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 Prague – 1926 Montreux).

Further Information

Author: Hans Christian Meiser