Biographies of Goethe

Goethe Contra Newton
by Dennis L. Sepper
An interesting look at the background and rationale of Goethe's notorious attack on Isaac Newton's theory of white light and colors. Sepper reassesses Goethe's science of color, as advanced in his Zur Farbenlehre. 240 pages. Cambrige Univ. Press. Paperback.

Goethe, The Poet and the Age: The Poetry of Desire (1749-1790)
by Nicholas Boyle
A highly praised, extensive biography and assessment of Goethe and his times. "As exciting as a good novel," said one reviewer (Der Spiegel). Boyle is a Goethe expert and professor at Cambridge University (England). See Volume II below. 954 pages. Oxford Univ. Press. Paperback.

Goethe, The Poet and the Age: Revolution and Renunciation (1790-1803)
by Nicholas Boyle
Volume II of Boyle's highly praised, extensive biography and assessment of Goethe and his times. "As exciting as a good novel," said one reviewer (Der Spiegel). Boyle is a Goethe expert and professor at Cambridge University (England). 958 pages. Oxford Univ. Press. Paperback.

Life of Goethe
by John R. Williams
In addition to the usual biography, Williams looks at Goethe's lesser known literary outputs such as epigrams, aphorisms, satires, libretti, and masquerades, as well as dramatic and narrative fragments. He also provides vivid accounts of Goethe's wide range of public activities including his relations with leading public figures of the day. Blackwell. Hardcover.

Goethe: A Critical Introduction
by Ronald Gray
A concise survey and criticism of Goethe's work, for the general reader and the student. Here Goethe's work is seen as a whole, and from the point of view of literary criticism. The first chapter summarizes Goethe's life. The other chapters discuss the works, singly and in groups. Much attention is given to the poems and there are two long chapters on Faust and Goethe's other literary works.

Goethe's Works (German and English)

Elective Affinities
by J.W. von Goethe
An English-language edition of Goethe's Wahlverwandschaften. Translated by R.J. Hollingdale. This novel was written when Goethe was sixty and long established as Germany's literary giant. This is a new edition of his penetrating study of marriage and passion, bringing together four people in an inexorable manner. 304 pages. Viking Penguin. Paperback.
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Conversations of Goethe
by J.W. von Goethe, Johann Peter Eckermann
Nowhere else can one encounter a more penetrating, many-sided and personal Goethe than in the extraordinary "Conversations" (1836) by Eckermann (1792-1854), a German author and scholar as well as Goethe's friend, archivist and editor. This text presents Goethe's thoughts on Byron, Carlyle, Delacroix, Hegel, Shakespeare and Voltaire, as well as his views on art, architecture, astronomy, the Bible, Chinese literature, criticism, dreams, ethics, freedom, genius, imagination, immortality, love, mind over body, and sculpture. 480 pages. DaCapo Press. Paperback.
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The Cambridge Companion to Goethe
by J.W. von Goethe (Lesley Sharpe, ed.)
This study provides a stimulating and accessible survey of this many-sided figure. The volume places Goethe in the context of the Germany and Europe of his lifetime. His literary work is covered in individual chapters on poetry, drama—with a separate chapter on Faust, prose fiction and autobiography. 294 pages. Cambridge Univ. Press. Paperback.
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Faust (Dual-Language Edition)
by J.W. von Goethe
A dual-language edition of Goethe's classsic (all of Faust, Part I and part of Part 2) with facing German and English texts. Translated by Walter Kaufmann. 512 pages. Anchor. Paperback.
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Faust Part I (Dual-Language Edition)
by J.W. von Goethe
A dual-language edition of Goethe's classsic Faust, Part I with facing German and English texts. A revised edition translated by Peter Salm. 352 pages. Bantam. Paperback.
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Faust: Part I
by J.W. von Goethe
Goethe's classsic Faust, Part I in an award-winning (European Poetry Translation Prize) translation by David Luke. (See Part II below.) 400 pages. Oxford Press. Paperback.
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Faust: Part II
by J.W. von Goethe
Goethe's classsic Faust, Part II. Translated by David Luke, whose translation of Part I was the winner of the European Poetry Translation Prize. 400 pages. Oxford Press. Paperback.
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Goethe: A Critical Introduction
by Ronald Gray
A concise survey and criticism of Goethe's work, for the general reader and the student. Here Goethe's work is seen as a whole, and from the point of view of literary criticism. The first chapter summarizes Goethe's life. The other chapters discuss the works, singly and in groups. Much attention is given to the poems and there are two long chapters on Faust and Goethe's other literary works.

Goethe: Maxims and Reflections
by J.W. von Goethe
Throughout his long, hectic and astonishingly varied life, Goethe would jot down his passing thoughts on theatre programmes, visiting cards, draft manuscripts and even bills... Goethe was probably the last true 'Renaissance Man.' Translated by Elisabeth Stopp. 208 pages. Penguin. Paperback.
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Goethe: Selected Verse
by J.W. von Goethe
Goethe's poetry translated by David Luke. The original German text and an English translation (usually in prose). This allows the reader who may not be fully conversant with German, or for whom it may be a bit rusty, to savor the word music of Goethe's original text. Includes significant excerpts from "Faust." 366 pages. Viking Press. Paperback.

Goethe: Italian Journey (1786-88) (Penguin Classics)
by J.W. von Goethe
Goethe's account of his Italienische Reise. Translation by W.H. Auden and Elizabeth Mayer. Penguin. Paperback.

Sorrows of Young Werther and Elective Affinities
by J.W. von Goethe
This series brings into modern English a reliable translation of a representative portion of Goethe's vast body of work. This edition, selected from over 140 volumes in German, is the new standard in English, and contains poetry, drama, fiction, memoir, criticism, and scientific writing by Goethe. This volume contains 'Sorrows of Young Werther' and 'Elective Affinities.' 304 pages. Princeton Univ. Press. Paperback.

Erotic Poems (Oxford World's Classics)
by J.W. von Goethe
Editorial censorship has long obscured Goethe's Roman Elegies, which were inspired by Goethe's sexual liberation in Italy and his love for the woman he took as his unofficial wife on his return to Germany. They are here presented as Goethe boldly conceived them, together with the long-surpressed narrative poem known as The Diary. Translated by David Luke. 208 pages. Oxford Univ. Press. Paperback.

The Sorrows of Young Werther
by J.W. von Goethe
W.H. Auden's English-language translation of Goethe's 1774 tale of unrequited love and suicide, Die Leiden des jungen Werthers. 224 pages. Vintage Books. Paperback.

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