Rilke's Russia: A Cultural Encounter

The exploration of Rilke's aesthetics is deeply intertwined with his experiences in Russia, particularly during his two trips with Lou Andreas-Salome. These journeys fostered connections with notable figures like Tolstoy, Pasternak, Tsvetaeva, and Gorky. Anna A. Tavis utilizes letters, poems, and fiction to illuminate Rilke's real and symbolic interactions with Russian culture and its literary giants from 1898 to 1926, highlighting the significant influence of these encounters on his work.