Opening with a brief account of the life and work of the early 20th Century German-language poet Rainer Maria Rilke, the book then has its first major set piece, a lengthy and provocative selection from his prose writings on death, for him the most important topic of all. This is followed by a light-hearted account of Rilke's surprising popularity in the U. S. of A., even extending to Hollywood. A short chapter on Rilke's obsession with the scientific accuracy of his poetry and another on his poetic humor, prepare the reader for the second major set piece of the book --- a revealing look at his masterwork on death, the 860-line poem Duinese Elegies. The book closes with appendices on Rilke and god, translating Rilke, and a listing of the nearly 30 English translations of Duinese Elegies. John Mood, ex-minister, ex-child welfare worker, ex-professor, semi-retired to San Diego in 1973 in order to write. He has studied, loved and lived with Rilke's poetry for almost 50 years. His book, Rilke on Love and Other Difficulties (1975), is still in print, being the second largest selling Rilke book in the English-speaking world. Mood recently published Joyce's "Ulysses" For Everyone, Or How To Skip Reading It The First Time, making that great novel accessible. Now, he returns his attention to Rilke, and to his poetic masterpiece, the 860-line Duinese Elegies. This is no academic treatment. He has recaptured the poem from the scholars and given it back to poetry lovers everywhere. Regardless of the seriousness of its subject -- death -- Mood shows how delightful and magical Rilke's poetry is. Rilke wants to affirm "life-AND-death as one." He does this by injecting both humor and the scientific accuracy of his images into his verse, making for poetry that is both approachable and enjoyable for readers. Mood has also unveiled the poem's structure. American essayist and novelist Gore Vidal said of it: "The suggestion that a German romantic might be witty [...] gave me a different overview; most enjoyable, your Rilke."