The 98-stanza-meter-and-rhyme translation of 'Legenda Luceafarului' - an entrancing masterpiece by Mihai Eminescu (1850-1889), the Romanian national poet - captures the essence of the original work's musicality and poetic nuance. It is the story of a young princess’s longing and impossible love for the immortal star who, sharing her love, takes human form and tries to become mortal. The Eve Star's flight back through time and space to Father Demiurge in search of it, as part of this enticing romantic tale, combines poetic substance and existential insights that will delight any reader. Mr. Sahlean is justly considered the premiere translator of Eminescu into English. This rendition has no sense of limitation or restriction found in some translations, and is truly rewarding when read aloud. 'The Legend of the Evening Star' was twice staged as a theatrical-musical-choreographic production off-Broadway in 2005 and 2008.
Author
Mihai Eminescu (Romanian pronunciation: [miˈhaj emiˈnesku]; born Mihail Eminovici) was a Romantic poet, novelist and journalist, often regarded as the most famous and influential Romanian poet. Eminescu was an active member of the Junimea literary society and he worked as an editor for the newspaper Timpul ("The Time"), the official newspaper of the Conservative Party (1880–1918). His first poems volume was published when he was 16 and he went to Vienna to study when he was 19. The poet's manuscripts, containing 46 volumes and approximately 14,000 pages, were offered by Titu Maiorescu as a gift to the Romanian Academy during the meeting that was held on January 25, 1902. Notable works include Luceafărul (Evening Star), Odă în metru antic (Ode in Ancient Meter), and the five Letters (Epistles/Satires). In his poems he frequently used metaphysical, mythological and historical subjects. In general his work was influenced by the German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer.
