The book presents a comprehensive study of the effect of Rainer Maria Rilke's Russian experience upon his creative output. Its focus is the analysis of the specific works of Rilke in which Russian or Ukrainian influence is demonstrated. In order to reach its conclusions the study scrutinizes publications on this topic from the Soviet Union and from the West and also uses previously unpublished material from Lou Andreas-Salome's -Russian Diary-.
The scope of this book is more comprehensive than others on this topic. It focuses on Rilke's entire oeuvre and deals with each work in which the influence of his Russian experience can be demonstrated."