Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Descartes' Devil: Three Meditations

Rate this book
"Descartes’ Devil" is a moving and beautifully constructed book that opens our eyes to the fantasy, humor, and imagination of Descartes. Grünbein’s thought-provoking reflections on the poetry and modernity of the philosopher — this man "chosen to set the course for all of us" — are heightened and made whole by his own playful poems, which conclude each meditation.

140 pages, Hardcover

First published April 20, 2008

1 person is currently reading
18 people want to read

About the author

Durs Grünbein

99 books22 followers
Durs Grünbein is a German poet, essayist and translator living in Berlin since 1985.

Grünbein is hailed as the most significant and successful poet to emerge from the former East Germany, and his work has been awarded many major German literary prizes, including the highest, the Georg-Büchner-Preis, which he won in 1995. That same year, he also won the Peter Huchel Prize for Poetry.

In 2005, he held the position of Max Kade Distinguished Visiting Professor at Dartmouth College.

In 2006, Grünbein was elected by the academy of fine arts at Düsseldorf to the first chair of poetry (poetics and artistic aesthetics) at any German university or academy. Grünbein is a regular contributor to Frau und Hund - Zeitschrift für kursives Denken, edited by the academy's rector, the painter Markus Lüpertz.

Grünbein has also published several essay collections and new translations of plays from antiquity, among them Aeschylus' The Persians, and Seneca's Thyestes. His work, which also includes contributions to catalogues and a libretto for opera, has been translated into many languages.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
3 (33%)
4 stars
4 (44%)
3 stars
0 (0%)
2 stars
2 (22%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 of 1 review
Profile Image for Nat.
57 reviews10 followers
December 20, 2016
Read in English and German. Gave a presentation including brief introduction to Descartes' theories.
Displaying 1 of 1 review

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.