In recent years, we have become familiar with televised pictures of a Europe that few Americans could place on a map. How lucky we are, then, that Sonja Kravanja has honored us with her masterful translations of the poet Edvard Kocbek, and thereby an introduction to the literature of her native Slovenia. Few translators have the ability to literally place the reader inside the thoughts of an author, yet this is what Kravenja has done. A rare and deeply emotional body of work, a window into the mind of a remarkable Eastern European poet.

Kravanja's translation of Kocbek's poems is wonderful. Each poem is distinctive - full of insight and understanding. Most impressive, however, is how incredibly beautiful the poetry is.