One of the most important poets of the twentieth century, Paul Celan confronted the problem of writing in German after the Holocaust, questioning what language could still communicate, preserve or make possible in the aftermath of historical catastrophe.

This collection gathers his lesser-known prose, speeches, correspondence and reflections on poetry, offering a remarkable account of a writer concerned with the relationship between language, memory, and estrangement.

Among the selections are Conversation in the Mountains, a haunting meditation on Jewish identity and alienation; The Meridian, Celan's extraordinary examination of poetry as an encounter between self and other; and writings on translation, surrealism, political transformation and the work of Alexander Blok and Osip Mandelstam. Throughout, Celan approaches language as something damaged, historically burdened and nevertheless capable of establishing a relation with the world. Translated and introduced by Rosmarie Waldrop, these writings are essential reading for anyone interested in poetry, philosophy, literary theory and the ethical possibilities of language.

Edition/Condition: Carcanet Classics, 2026 edition. Paperback. Translated by Rosmarie Waldrop. Appears in excellent, near-new condition, with minimal visible wear.