The Resume

(December 4, 1875-December 29, 1926)
Born in Prague, Czech Republic
At his date of birth, Prague was part of Austria-Hungary
Birth name is René Karl Wilhelm Johann Josef Maria Rilke
Wrote 'The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge' (1910), 'Sonnets to Orpheus' (1923), 'Duino Elegies' (1923) and 'Letters to a Young Poet' (1934)

Why he might be annoying:

His mother, grieving for his dead sister, pretended he was a girl.
He had an affair with a married woman 14 years his senior.
He changed his first name to 'Rainer' because his lover thought 'René' was effeminate.
He left his wife and baby daughter after one year of marriage.
It took him over ten years to finish 'Duino Elegies.'
Friends in high places ensured he did not have to serve on the front during World War I.

Why he might not be annoying:

His father forced him to attend a military academy for five years.
He championed the sculptor Auguste Rodin.
He was drafted into the German army at age 40.
He wrote positively about Islam.
His vivid lyrics or 'thing poems' helped modernize German poetry.
Little known in his own time, his admirers today range from Thomas Pynchon to Jane Fonda.
Artistic teens often receive 'Letters to a Young Poet' as a gift.

Credit: Georgina

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• 19th Century Poets
• 20th Century Poets
• Georgina/Devil Doll's Profiles [Series 2]
• I Died in 1926 (Ranked: 51)
• I Have Leukemia
• I Married for Less than Two Years
• I Write Bildungsroman
• Le Monde's 100 Books of the Century [1999] (Ranked: 91)
• Poets
• Profiles 20251-20500 (Ranked: 20287)
• Served in World War I
• Weather Names

Year In Review:

For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 22 Votes: 22.73% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 18 Votes: 38.89% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 11 Votes: 27.27% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 11 Votes: 36.36% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 12 Votes: 41.67% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 33 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 14 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 31 Votes: 64.52% Annoying
In 2007, Out of 55 Votes: 65.45% Annoying