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PUBLICATION STUDIO HUDSON
Sonnets
By Walter Benjamin
Translated with text by Carl Skoggard.
Walter Benjamin's sonnets, written to mourn his friend Fritz Heinle, constitute an important though little-known part of the philosopher's literary achievement and a unique contribution to the history of the German sonnet. Benjamin would add to their number over a decade, having begun his project soon after the outbreak of World War I and the suicide of his friend. They were among the writings that Benjamin, forced to flee France, entrusted to Georges Bataille in 1940 for safekeeping. Here, for the first time, readers of English are offered translations of all 73 "Heinle sonnets" along with the original German text and an extensive commentary. The Introductory Essay examines the poems' biographical context as well as Benjamin's bold approach to sonnet writing. These poems weave the deeply personal together with Benjamin's evolving religious and philosophical perspective--shedding new light on the emergence of the man and the thinker.
PRAISE AND REVIEWS
Hyperallergic
Barry Schwabsky
It may be that an understanding of Benjamin cannot avoid passing through these poems.
FORMAT: Pbk, 4.75 x 6.5 in. / 394 pgs / 5 b&w. LIST PRICE: U.S. $22.00 LIST PRICE: CANADA $30 GBP £20.00 ISBN: 9781624620812 PUBLISHER: Publication Studio Hudson AVAILABLE: 10/27/2015 DISTRIBUTION: D.A.P. RETAILER DISC: TRADE PUBLISHING STATUS: Out of stock indefinitely AVAILABILITY: Not available TERRITORY: WORLD
Published by Publication Studio Hudson. Translated with text by Carl Skoggard.
Walter Benjamin's sonnets, written to mourn his friend Fritz Heinle, constitute an important though little-known part of the philosopher's literary achievement and a unique contribution to the history of the German sonnet. Benjamin would add to their number over a decade, having begun his project soon after the outbreak of World War I and the suicide of his friend. They were among the writings that Benjamin, forced to flee France, entrusted to Georges Bataille in 1940 for safekeeping. Here, for the first time, readers of English are offered translations of all 73 "Heinle sonnets" along with the original German text and an extensive commentary. The Introductory Essay examines the poems' biographical context as well as Benjamin's bold approach to sonnet writing. These poems weave the deeply personal together with Benjamin's evolving religious and philosophical perspective--shedding new light on the emergence of the man and the thinker.
