Penguin Books Ltd

A philosophy that saw self-possession as the key to an existence lived "in accordance with nature", Stoicism called for restraint of animal instincts and severing of emotional ties. Seneca's contribution to a seemingly unsympathetic creed was to transform it into an inspiring declaration of the dignity of the individual mind.

At the start of the twentieth century, Rainer Maria Rilke wrote a series of letters to a young officer cadet, advising him on writing, love, sex, suffering and the nature of advice itself; these profound and lyrical letters have since become hugely influential for writers and artists of all kinds. This edition deals with these letters.

'What matters is to live everything. Live the questions for now.' This title features profound and lyrical letters the author wrote to a young friend with advise on writing, love, sex, suffering and the nature of advice itself.