As a member of the German-speaking minority in Prague, Rilke felt himself to be an alien in all communities, barred as he was by birth and language from indigenous Czech culture and rejecting the dominant German. He knew the Czechs and felt for their aspirations for national self-determination and the rebirth of their culture. He did so without the deprecating attitude of a minority attempting to retain power, but rather from the perspective of a cosmopolite seeing little good in any outcome of the struggle. In Heilige,  Rilke reflects with uncharacteristic humor on the numerous statues of Czech saints throughout Prague. Heilige is part of the Larenopfer cycle published in 1896. These are offerings to the Lares, household deities and all deal with Prague, the city of Rilke's youth. The lines between German and Czech were drawn quite clearly then in Prague and it was the rare German author who responded to the Czech element in any way. Though this youthful work is rarely taken too seriously, its Czech subject matter and delightfully melodic structure make these pieces irresistible to modern Czech translators. In the following pages the impossible has been attempted, to translate the meaning and retain the structure and playful musicality of Rilke's verse. Like others before me, I too have found the challenge irresistible and have added my attempts to a list now expanded to English.

L. R. Hanka.

        Re-edition of poems originally published by Jan Jordan, na kopecku u Olomouce (on the hill by Olomouc) Illustration and accompanying sauce by Ladislav R. Hank.. Rilke's poem "Helige" printed in German & various Czech translations (1932-87) & Hanka's 1987 English translation as "Saints".   An edition of 50, most bound in  full vellum  (some in parchment )  by Jan Sobota with his gilt name stamp on lower margin of back cover

Binding by Jan Sobota

...and to bring the parade of saints to a close  - a minor,  but smiling diabolic presence...

Saints - 5 books remaining in full parchment -    750.00 each

There may be unbound copies in Jan Sobota’s workshop in Czech Republic - inquire - they’d sell for :           200.00 each