A New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice Selection Named one of the Best Books of the Year by the Economist and Kirkus Reviews This “splendid biography” (Wall Street Journal) of Goethe presents his life and work as an essential touchstone for the modern age. A masterful intellectual portrait, Goethe: Life as a Work of Art is celebrated as the seminal twenty-first-century biography of the writer considered to be the Shakespeare of German literature. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832), a remarkably prolific poet, playwright, novelist, and—as Rüdiger Safranksi emphasizes—a statesman and naturalist, first awakened not only a burgeoning German nation but the European continent with his electrifying novel The Sorrows of Young Werther. Safranski has scoured Goethe’s entire oeuvre, relying exclusively on primary sources, including his correspondence with contemporaries, to produce a “fresh and authentic” (Economist) portrait of the avatar of the Romantic era. Skillfully blending “artistic analysis with swift, sharp renderings” of the great political and intellectual figures Goethe encountered, “[Safranski’s] portrait of the prolific genius leaves the reader with lasting awe, even envy” of a monumental legacy (The New Yorker). As Safranski ultimately shows, Goethe’s greatest creation, even in comparison to his masterpiece Faust, was his own life.

Contains a brief biography of Goethe, a collection of some of his best-known works, and a sampling of his personal correspondence. Includes his four major works, together with a selection of his finest letters and poems. The Sorrows of Young Werther is a story of self-destructive love that made its author a celebrity overnight at the age of twenty-five. Its exploration of the conflicts between ideas and feelings, between circumstance and desire, continues in his controversial novel probing the institution of marriage, Elective Affinities. The cosmic drama of Faust goes far beyond the realism of the novels in a poetic exploration of good and evil, while Italian Journey, written in the author's old age, recalls his youth in Italy and the effect of Mediterranean culture on a young northerner. Translators include W. H. Auden, Louise Bogan, David Constantine, Barker Fairley, and Elizabeth Mayer.

This meticulously edited Goethe collection includes: Novels & Novellas: The Sorrows of Young Werther Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship Wilhelm Meister's Journeyman Years Elective Affinities The Good Women Novella; or, A Tale The Recreations of the German Emigrants - Green Snake and the Beautiful Lily (A Fairy Tale) Plays The Wayward Lover; or, The Lover's Caprice Goetz Von Berlichingen with the Iron Hand Clavigo Stella Brother and Sister Iphigenia in Tauris Egmont Faust - Faust (Part One) - Faust (Part Two) - Faustus (Translated by Samuel Taylor Coleridge) Torquato Tasso The Natural Daughter The Fellow Culprits Poetry: Hermann and Dorothea Erotica Romana Reynard the Fox The Sorcerer's Apprentice Songs Familiar Songs Ballads Cantatas Odes Sonnets Epigrams Parables Art God, Soul, and World Religion and Church Antiques Venetian Epigrams Elegies West-Eastern Divan Songs from Various Plays Miscellaneous Poems Autobiography and Memoirs: Truth and Poetry: From My Own Life Maxims and Reflections Letters: Letters from Italy (Italian Journey) Letters from Switzerland Correspondence with K. F. Zelter Eckermann's Conversations with Goethe Essays: Theory of Colours Winckelmann and His Age Introduction to the Propyläen Criticism on Goethe & His Works: Life of Johann Wolfgang Goethe (James Sime) Goethe: The Writer (Ralph Waldo Emerson) Byron and Goethe (Giuseppe Mazzini) The Faust-Legend and Goethe's 'Faust' (H. B. Cotterill) Goethe's Farbenlehre: Theory of Colors (I&II) (John Tyndall)

The Collected Works of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is a comprehensive collection of poems, novels, and plays by one of the greatest literary figures in German history. Goethe's writing style is characterized by its rich symbolism, vivid imagery, and emotional depth, making his works both timeless and deeply moving. From the romanticism of 'The Sorrows of Young Werther' to the philosophical depth of 'Faust', this collection offers a glimpse into Goethe's versatile talent and complex exploration of human nature. Each piece reflects Goethe's fascination with themes such as love, destiny, and the pursuit of knowledge, making his writing both thought-provoking and captivating. As a key figure in the Sturm und Drang movement and German Romanticism, Goethe's influence on European literature cannot be overstated. His works continue to inspire and resonate with readers around the world, showcasing the enduring power of his storytelling. Fans of classic literature and those interested in exploring the depths of human experience will find The Collected Works of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe a compelling and enriching read.