Essays and Letters

To be read along with his poems

This is a very welcome adddition to Holderlin in English. This edition appears to be a Penguin Classic sold in England and Canada but not available for general sale in US bookstores. Hopefully Penguin will issue a US edition.This edition consists of a 6 page chronology, a 50 page critical introduction, 223 pages devoted to 120 letters (314 survive), all of Holderlin's essays (excepting 5 early pieces from school and university) including the Pindar Fragments, The Oldest Programme for a System of German idealism, 48 pages of notes, and biographical notes on his correspondants.The letters are translated by Charlie Louth and the essays by Jeremy Adler. I am grateful to just have the translations and will let reviewers more expert in German comment on how well they were done.My only regret is that the editors did not include the letters to Holderlin from the love of his life Susette Gontard. Although this would have deviated from their intent to publish only Holderlin's letters, these would have made a welcome addition (they have been translated separately by David Farrell Krell). There are, however, letters from Holderlin to Susette.For those readers looking for a complete German edition of Holderlin, I highly recommend the 3000 page Leseausgabe (12 paperback volumes in a slipcase: ISBN 978-3630620633 ) published by Luchterhand and available from Amazon sellers. It is the Frankfurter Ausgabe edited by D.E. Sattler without the staggering critical apparatus.

Brilliant essays and letters by Holderlin, with a marvelous introduction. Very impressed.I had never read so many of Holderlin's letters and essays in one book, and was convinced -- yet again -- that he is one of the pivotal thinkers and poets of the last 500 years. His influence on our times is huge, since everyone from Rilke to Hegel learned from him.

The Kindle edition does not have a contents table, but the contents page appears at location 115. Once you bookmark this page the edition is easier to use.