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Rilke at 150: Marbach Opens Major Archive Show as Interest Surges

Fresh material from the 2022 acquisition anchors a public rediscovery of his work.

Overview

  • On the poet’s 150th birthday, the Literaturmuseum der Moderne in Marbach opens a large exhibition drawing from newly acquired Rilke archives.
  • New releases broaden access for contemporary readers, including Sandra Richter’s biography and Melanie Garanin’s 2025 graphic novel Mein Freund Rilke.
  • Rilke’s presence in popular culture endures, with references from Lady Gaga’s tattoo to BTS imagery and influencers performing his texts online.
  • Historical context highlights how Insel Verlag and Anton Kippenberg nurtured Rilke’s career, with letters documenting support through the Duino Elegies and Sonette an Orpheus.
  • Some coverage revisits disputed aspects of his politics, noting reported admiration for Mussolini that complicates celebratory tributes.