This book is an investigation of the role of creative labor and the five senses in Rainer Maria Rilkes prose works, including his Primal Sound essay, the Stories of God, The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge, and his monograph on Auguste Rodin. It is about several protagonists quest to achieve creative labor by reconnecting spirit or the unconscious to the hand. There are many difficulties in the way, however, illustrated by Rilkes essays, tales, and monographs. In the process of overcoming these impediments, the five senses are expanded and refined. Rilkes characters undergo a transformation that not only allows them to do true creative labor, but also brings them into a new relationship with themselves, the world around them and other people.

Nicholas Carroll Reynolds received his PhD at the University of Oregon, USA. He has authored several articles on philosophy and literature, and has worked as an editor and translator. He is currently employed at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, USA, where he teaches in the German, Philosophy, and First Year Experience programs, as well as in Trinitys Study abroad program in Berlin, Germany.

Nicholas Carroll Reynolds received his PhD at the University of Oregon, USA. He has authored several articles on philosophy and literature, and has worked as an editor and translator. He is currently employed at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, USA, where he teaches in the German, Philosophy, and First Year Experience programs, as well as in Trinitys Study abroad program in Berlin, Germany.

I. INTRODUCTION.- II. RILKES PRIMORDIAL SOUND: AN IMPASSE OF THE SENSES.- III. STORIES OF THE DEAR LORD, FIRST PART: THE SEPARATION OF
HAND AND SPIRIT.- IV. STORIES OF THE DEAR LORD, SECOND PART: THE CONDITIONS FOR THE POSSIBLITY OF SENSE.- V. LEARNING TO SEE: THE NOTEBOOKS OF MALTE LAURIDS BRIGGE, FIRST PART.- VI. TRANSFORMATIONS: MALTE LAURIDS BRIGGE, SECOND PART.- VII. AUGUSTE RODIN AND THE CULMINATION OF CREATIVE LABOR.

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