Dithyrambs of Dionysus

Born in 1844, Friedrich Nietzsche died in Weimar on 25 August 1900. Arguably the most important philosopher of the 19th century, his earliest reputation was as much for his poetry as for his philosophical writings. He began writing poetry as a boy and continued, in a wide range of styles, throughout his life. In its completed form, Dithyrambs of Dionysus was his last book.

 

The nine poems of this cycle were composed during 1883-8 and assembled for publication shortly before his breakdown in 1889. They represent the ultimate visionary poetic style which he developed in the years after Thus Spake Zarathustra and form a coda to his life's work.

 

RJ Hollingdale (1930-2001) translated most of Nietzsche’s writings and works by Schopenhauer, Goethe, ETA Hoffman, Lichtenberg and Theodor Fontane, among others. His biography Nietzsche: The Man and his Philosophy is widely regarded as the definitive study. In 1989 he was elected founding president of the Friedrich Nietzsche Society. In addition to his scholarly and translation activities, he worked as a sub-editor for the Guardian newspaper and as a critic for the Times Literary Supplement.