Transplantings

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Anatole France once remarked that "translation is an impossible thing," highlighting a truth that Daniel Weissbort explores in Transplantings, a culmination of Viereck's sixty-five-year project. This work, completed shortly before Viereck's death, delves into the unique aesthetic dimensions of translating poetry from major foreign languages. Viereck's insights reveal him not only as a substantive poet but also as a significant public intellectual. He critically engages with major figures like Stefan George and Georg Heym, while also reviewing the works of Goethe, Novalis, and Rilke. Viereck emphasizes the distinction between the poetical and the political, asserting that the quality of poetry should not be measured by political standards, nor should political actions be defined by poetic commitment. The exploration of German, French, and Italian thought uncovers a divide that, while narrowable, remains challenging. Transplantings does not simplify the reader's journey; instead, it illustrates how the passion of great poetry is rooted in national traditions and how translation fosters an international culture. This major work by Viereck, a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and historian, is essential reading for those interested in the interplay between European and American experiences.