Kandinsky's poetry is little known in the English-speaking world, even amongst lovers of his art. Klaenge appeared from Piper Verlag in Munich in 1912 or 1913 - the exact date is uncertain - in a splendid volume, 29 cms square - this translated edition is, by contrast, 20 cms square). Many of the poems dated back a few years, but they were very much of their time and were prized both in the artist's native Russia (where some pirated translations appeared) and in the German-speaking world. In fact, the Dada group gave readings from Klaenge in Zurich.