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Letters to a Young Poet is a collection of ten letters written by Rainer Maria Rilke to Franz Xaver Kappus. Summary of the Book In 1902, a young officer cadet at the Theresian Military Academy in Wiener Neustadt discovered that one of his favourite poets was a pupil at the same academy years ago. Curious, Franz Xaver Kappus decided to write to the already famous Rainer Maria Rilke and tell him about his own aspirations for writing. Kappus also sent Rilke a few of his own poems, asking him for a critique. What he received would have originally disappointed him, for there was little by way of criticism. Instead, Rilke wrote to Kappus asking him to trust no one’s criticism but his own. He asked him to trust his own heart, and follow his dream. The letter coaxed Kappus to explore his own emotions and delve into broader issues of intimacy and the nature of beauty and art, as well as probing philosophical and existential questions through his poems. Kappus wrote back to Rilke, admitting his personal issues, ranging from atheism, loneliness, sexuality, and career choices. Rilke wrote a total of 10 letters to Kappus, covering these topics and others. Although Kappus is a largely unknown person out of literature, the name Rilke continues to inspire. However, this little book stands testament to his greater achievement, his ability to spark hope and inspiration in others, and his compassion and empathy to support a relatively new poet as he began his foray into writing. This book is something everyone with a burning passion to follow a dream must read, especially if they wish to see the dream manifest before their eyes through sheer hard work and dedication. About Rainer Maria Rilke René Karl Wilhelm Johann Josef Maria Rilke, also known as Rainer Maria Rilke, was a Bohemian-Austrian poet and novelist. He is known for his poems, one novel and his collection of letters and other correspondence through which he writes about several issues which haunted his writing throughout his life.