ELEGIE ELEGIES: POEMS BY JIRI ORTEN by Orten, Jiri (Translated by Lyn Coffin) - 1980

Prague, Czech Republic: SVU Press, 1980. First Edition. First Printing.. Softcover. Fine/No Dust Jacket, As Issued.. Prague, Czech Republic: SVU Press, 1980. Softcover. Fine/None, As Issued. First Edition/First Printing. 111 pages. Retrospective collection of poems. The single best introduction to the poetry of Jiri Orten. The first and only edition. Published in a small and limited print run as a Bilingual Softcover Edition only. The First Edition is now rare. Presents Jiri Orten's "Elegie Elegies" in definitive translations by Lyn Coffin, his most dedicated translator in English. Poetry that is necessary and sublime. The original poems in Czech are presented on the left-hand side and the English translations en face. The collection is presented in two sequences: The first part is a selection of lyrical poems while the second consists of the relentless "Elegies" Suite, nine Numbered Poems ("Elegie Number One" and so on) that match - if not surpass - Rainer Maria Rilke's "Duino Elegies". Now regarded as one of the seminal poets of the 20th century by such authoritative figures as Edward Hirsch, Jiri Orten's abbreviated life, as a persecuted and finally, as a murdered Jew in Holocaust Era Europe, was nothing less than miserable from beginning until the end. Ran over by an ambulance, of all things, he was rushed to the General Infirmary, but upon arriving, was refused medical attention altogether because he was a Jew. He died two days later. "The dream I dream is of longing. The sort that dawn erases / before one awakes. This is the country where the raven is king" (Jiri Orten) . An absolute "must-have" title for Jiri Orten collectors. This title is a great collection. This is one of few copies of the First Edition/First Printing (Bilingual Czech/English) still available online and despite its imperfection (slight creasing on the soft spine, but it's there) is still in fine condition overall: Every single internal page is clean, crisp, and bright. It is priced accordingly. Please note: Copies available online have serious flaws because the book is a very fragile softcover, inexpensively produced by SVU Press The Czech Republic, in order to gain mainstream appeal. This is surely an accessible and lovely alternative. A rare copy thus. One of the greatest poets of the 20th century. A fine copy. (SEE ALSO OTHER COPY OF THIS TITLE IN OUR CATALOG). ISBN 0936570016.