Babette Deutsch

Babette Deutsch

Babette Deutsch

Babette Deutsch (1895–1982) was a native New Yorker who began publishing poetry while a student at Barnard College. She soon became involved with the Imagist movement, and translated and anthologized German and Russian poetry.

cover image of the book Poems from the Book of Hours

Poems from the Book of Hours

by Rainer Rilke

Translated by Babette Deutsch

Although The Book of Hours is the work of Rilke’s youth, it contains the germ of his mature convictions. Written as spontaneously received prayers, these poems celebrate a God who is not the Creator of the Universe but rather humanity itself and, above all, that most intensely conscious part of humanity, the artist. Babette Deutsch’s classic translations—born from “the pure desire to sing what the poet sang” (Ursula K. Le Guin)—capture the rich harmony and suggestive imagery of the originals, transporting the reader to new heights of inspiration and musicality.

More Information
Scroll to Top of Page