RILKE RAINER MARIA: (1875-1926) Austrian poet and novelist. A.L.S., R. M. Rilke, to ...

RILKE RAINER MARIA: (1875-1926) Austrian poet and novelist. A.L.S., R. M. Rilke, to the full verso of a picture postcard depicting the Chateau de Muzot, n.p. (Veyras, Switzerland), 25^th December 1921, to Leni, in German. Writing on Christmas Day, Rilke states that he regrets being late in sending his Christmas wishes to his correspondent, although warmly thanks her for her own, adding that he hopes she had a good holiday with her family, and explaining that his own was spent calmly and alone, even without any small trees this time, but that he received affectionate and friendly thoughts from all sides. Rilke concludes by wishing his correspondent many good things in the New Year. One corner crease, only very lightly affecting a few letters of text, and not the signature, otherwise VG

The Chateau de Muzot, a 13^th-century fortified manor house, is located in Switzerland’s Rhone Valley, and was purchased by the arts patron Werner Reinhart in 1921. Reinhart invited Rilke to live rent free in the Chateau, which the poet did from 1921-26. Indeed, in February 1922, just a few months following the present letter, Rilke completed the Duino Elegies at Muzot after a long silence and delays of ten years, largely caused by severe depression.