While D'Annunzio's sparkling novels Lust (1889), Triumph of Death (1894), and Fire (1900) were translated early on, his poetry has remained largely unknown to German-speaking readers. The now completed reworking of his most poetically mature collection of poems makes a true discovery of this controversial literary figure as a poet possible in the year of his 150th birthday and 75th death anniversary. The cycle of Laudi combines, although its title recalls the pious praises of Francis of Assisi, pagan hymns to the heavens, the sea, the earth, and heroes. Originally planned as seven volumes named after all the Pleiades, they culminate after Maia and Elettra in the third volume: Alcyone (1903), but more than a decade later, only two, Merope and Asterope, would follow. D'Annunzio had surpassed his poetic zenith.