Goethe: His Life and Times

by Richard Friedenthal

Overview

"The study of Goethe's life is a task that each generation must undertake anew." Thus writes Richard Friedenthal, author of this rich biography. Spanning eight momentous decades of war, revolution, and social upheaval, Goethe's life reveals itself as one of conflict and dynamic development, of inner contradiction and unceasing creativity.

As novelist, dramatist, and poet, Goethe produced epochal works of fiery romanticism, only later to dedicate himself to a classical ideal of purity and measure. His superb love lyrics immortalize a succession of ardent relationships; yet, in him too, was a strain of frigid egotism mingled with an Olympian detachment. The new introduction serves to place in perspective this outstanding work on the German master.

He was capable of tirelessly exploring the external world as physiologist, geologist, and botanist. He was equally capable of plunging to the depths of profound subjective analysis. A minister of state, a model of distinguished probity, Goethe nonetheless lived a life of passionate seeking, eternally questioning official values. Nothing perhaps better sums up this vast complexity than his lifelong work, Faust, the supreme dramatization of man's quest on earth.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781412813464
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	06/15/2010
Pages:	618
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

Richard Friedenthal (1896-1979) was a prominent German- British writer, poet, and author. In his lifetime he was the vice president of the PEN Center of the German Speaking Authors Abroad and also worked at the British Broadcasting Corporation. Some of his works include Karl Marx, Great Stories, and Luther--His Life and Time.

Table of Contents

Introduction to the Transaction Edition ix

1 In Praise of Ancestry 13

2 Childhood 24

3 Gradus ad Parnassum 35

4 Leipzig Student 39

5 The Wayward Shepherd 54

6 Twilight 59

7 New Dawn 69

8 Strasbourg Wanderings 79

9 Friederike in Sesenheim 86

10 Doctor Goethe 95

11 Lotte in Wetzlar 110

12 Genius in Exuberance 118

13 The Sufferings of the Young Werther 128

14 Sturm und Drang 133

15 Physiognomics 147

16 Lili 153

17 Weimar 162

18 Sleigh-ride 172

19 Government 183

20 Minister of State 195

21 The School of Frau von Stein 204

22 Courtier and Poet 216

23 Flight 227

24 Italy 238

25 Erotikon 254

26 Collected Works 267

27 Interpretation of Nature 279

28 Revolutionary Days 292

29 Goethe at War 303

30 The First German Republic 318

31 Two Masters 328

32 A German Idyll 344

33 Goethe's Theatrical Mission 357

34 The Days of Napoleon 369

35 A Galaxy of Kings 382

36 Exploits and Sufferings of Light 392

37 The Patriarch 405

38 Awakening of the Sleeper 420

39 The Oriental Divan 432

40 The Wanderer in Weimar 446

41 Trilogy of Passion 459

42 Conversations with Goethe 471

43 Faust 490

44 World Literature 510

Postscript 529

Chronological Table 531

Bibliographical Survey 534

Index 543