It's a relative term.' ' ' progressivism ' ' '
He may be a man with a Pour le Mérite.Who is von Walcker again? I can't find anyone by that name via Search.
Who is von Walcker again? I can't find anyone by that name via Search.
Also I love the fact that these old time Prussians are the ones driving progressivism.
Who is von Walcker again? I can't find anyone by that name via Search.
Also I love the fact that these old time Prussians are the ones driving progressivism.
Herrenclub are basically analogous to London gentlemen's clubs like the Reform Club right?
hence my remark about them being seen as snobs.Rather, they would like to be. Depending on clientele, most of them were more Colonel Blimp than Phileas Fogg.
The carriage clattered to a halt on the cobbles outside the palace. Around the hall, the assembled guests straightened their ties and adjusted the fit of their jackets, preparing for the illustrious visitor Prince Meshersky was accompanying from the railway station. Boris Pasternak was in animated conversation with Mikhail Balakirev when his father approached to draw him aside.
“It is amazing!” the young man could barely curb his enthusiasm. “These words! Listen: ‘You cannot show me a Russian village miserable enough to shake my conviction and belief about Russia. I do not fear that the Russian People should ever starve, for God Himself nourishes it with his eternal love.’ He wrote this to a German critic. Or this, from his travel notes: ‘The German needs Socialism as a theory. To the Russian, it is a natural state. Even the nobility is so much a part of the people that their individualism is felt at most in a greater call to shared sacrifice. His pride of lineage is submission to the greater whole.’ How could he have such profound insight into Russian nature – a German? After just a brief visit!”
Balakirev smiled benignly. “Rilke is a genius.” He said. “That much is evident from his poetry. You must not forget that the state of Germany and its system, not the German people, is our foe. I have never held with the idea that there was something inherent to being German that made one less capable of greatness of the soul. You have read his works, I take it – you read German?”
“Fluently!” Boris confirmed before checking himself. Until recently, this was not something you wanted to advertise too prominently. Especially not in a position as precarious as that his family enjoyed. The patronage of the mighty could be fickle. “I mean, of course it is necessary for a musical education.”
The composer nodded. “Obviously. And you must have read…”
Leonid Pasternak interposed: “I am sorry.” He said, dragging his son into the second line of the welcoming committee.
“Stop playing the fool!” he hissed. “These people only accept us because of Tolstoy. Stand with your sister and look decorative! You can discuss your art theory with your fellow poets.”
Chastened, the young man stood still as the front door opened and the man himself entered. Rainer Maria Rilke, tired and thirsty from travelling, smiled on the company, his eyes lighting up at their adoration. Here was the genius – and more importantly,. As Meshersky led him through the vestibule towards the zakusky tables set in the ballroom, the man who could explain Russia to the Germans.
Rainer Maria Rilke, I confess I've never heard of him before.
Rainer Maria Rilke said:Autumn Day
Lord it is time. Great was the summer.
Your shadow put on sundials' faces now
unleash the gales upon the meadows.
Command the final fruits to ripen,
grant them two further southern days,
and push them to perfection; chase
the final sweetness into heavy wine.
Who has no house now none shall build.
Who is alone now, long will stay,
will be awake, read books, long letters write,
and forth and back the promenade
walk restlessly when leaves adrift.
As fellow Austrian I must dadmit, I knew the name - actually quite famous here, but could not mane one of his works - nor have I read one...
So no non-german speaker has to be ashamed not to know him
Swiss here. Same - I know the name, know he was a poet, but we never read anything in school from him.