Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Books

Goethe's early plays bear witness to his urgent desire to enliven German theater--an ambition that followed him to the National Theater in Weimar, where he was named director in the early 1790s. This volume contains eight of these plays, written between 1771 and 1787. Not only do they demonstrate Goethe's unprecedented versatility in experimenting with new forms of dramatic expression, but they also give insight into his development from Sturm und Drang to classicism. These works include prose plays (Goetz von Berlichingen with the Iron Hand and Egmont), tragedies and comedies (Clavigo, Stella, and Brother and Sister), and dramatic verse forms (Prometheus, Jery and Betty, and Proserpina).

»Kennst du das Land, wo die Zitronen blühn, im dunkeln Laub die Goldorangen glühn …« Eine Reise nach Italien galt im 17. und 18. Jahrhundert als unverzichtbarer Bestandteil der Erziehung junger Männer aus gutem Hause. Beschwerliche Kutschfahrten führten sie nach Florenz, Venedig, Rom und Neapel. Künstler folgten ihnen bald, und so führte 1786 bis 1788 auch Johann Wolfgang von Goethe die Sehnsucht gen Süden. Goethes Italienische Reise vermittelt sehr lebendig seine tiefe Begeisterung, schildert aber auch einen bereits gut organisierten frühen Tourismus. Nur siebzig Jahre später hielten erste Fotografen Stationen der Grand Tour auf silberbeschichteten Platten fest. Carlo Naya (1816–1882) oder dem, wie Goethe, aus Frankfurt am Main stammenden Giorgio Sommer (1834–1914) gelangen ungemein poetische Ansichten von Markusplatz, Kolosseum, Rauch spuckendem Vesuv und schönen Fischerinnen auf Capri. – Zeigen die träumerischen Bilder uns, was Goethe sah? Der Band im XL-Format stellt Goethe-Zitate den entsprechenden Fotografien gegenüber.

Goethe’s influential text, newly illustrated with stunning color photographs. The Metamorphosis of Plants, published in 1790, was Goethe’s first major attempt to describe what he called in a letter to a friend “the truth about the how of the organism.” Inspired by the diversity of flora he found on a journey to Italy, Goethe sought a unity of form in diverse structures. He came to see in the leaf the germ of a plant’s metamorphosis—“the true Proteus who can hide or reveal himself in all vegetal forms”—from the root and stem leaves to the calyx and corolla, to pistil and stamens. With this short book—123 numbered paragraphs, in the manner of the great botanist Linnaeus—Goethe aimed to tell the story of botanical forms in process, to present, in effect, a motion picture of the metamorphosis of plants. This MIT Press edition of The Metamorphosis of Plants illustrates Goethe’s text (in an English translation by Douglas Miller) with a series of stunning and starkly beautiful color photographs as well as numerous line drawings. It is the most completely and colorfully illustrated edition of Goethe’s book ever published. It demonstrates vividly Goethe’s ideas of transformation and interdependence, as well as the systematic use of imagination in scientific research—which influenced thinkers ranging from Darwin to Thoreau and has much to teach us today about our relationship with nature.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is most famous for his work on color theory, but he was also an accomplished all-round scientist, studying and writing on anatomy, geology, botany, zoology and meteorology. This book draws together, in Goethe's own words, his key ideas on nature, science and scientific method. Goethe believed that we should study our world and nature as people at home in it, rather than removedly, as if we were aliens from another planet. He adopted a qualitative approach to science at odds with Newton's quantitative methods that were so popular in his day. His is a sensitive science which does not ignore our relationship to nature. The extracts in this book are fascinating and essential reading for anyone who feels that we've lost our spiritual connection to nature.

This work by Goethe (1749-1832) was translated into English in 1840 by Sir Charles Eastlake (1793-1865), painter and later keeper of the National Gallery. Eastlake's clear translation of Goethe's observations and experiments on colour and light will appeal to anyone interested in our responses to art.

The translation of American poet Randall Jarrell of Faust, Part One. The photograph of the cover here is incorrect, as it shows the front of a WW Norton edition.

Featuring a collection of 1413 maxims drawn from the diverse works and sketches of Goethe, this book encapsulates the wisdom and insights of the renowned writer. Each maxim reflects Goethe's profound understanding of life, nature, and the human experience, offering readers a rich tapestry of thought-provoking reflections. Ideal for those seeking inspiration or a deeper appreciation of Goethe's literary legacy, this compilation serves as both a philosophical guide and a celebration of his enduring influence.

Goethe's most complex work, Faust, represents the culmination of his lifelong artistic journey, developed over sixty years. It serves as a testament to his moral and artistic evolution, drawing from a rich tapestry of cultural and historical influences. The drama encapsulates the relentless pursuit of progress by Western humanity. This new English translation captures the poem's diverse tones and poetic richness, employing contemporary language while preserving Goethe's formal and rhythmic variety. The translation effectively conveys the original's sense and tonal nuances without resorting to archaic expressions or excessive interpretation. Accompanying the text is a brief essay that sheds light on Goethe's reflections during the six decades of composition, alongside notes that clarify allusions and highlight significant metrical features for English readers. This work is part of a twelve-volume paperback series that aims to present a reliable translation of Goethe's extensive oeuvre, selected from over 140 German volumes. This edition stands as a new standard in English, encompassing poetry, drama, fiction, memoir, criticism, and scientific writing. The complete series is also available in hardcover through Princeton University Press.

The Autobiography of Goethe - Truth and poetry: from my own life. Translated from the German. Vol. 1 (Books I. - XIII.) is an unchanged, high-quality reprint of the original edition of 1881. Hansebooks is editor of the literature on different topic areas such as research and science, travel and expeditions, cooking and nutrition, medicine, and other genres. As a publisher we focus on the preservation of historical literature. Many works of historical writers and scientists are available today as antiques only. Hansebooks newly publishes these books and contributes to the preservation of literature which has become rare and historical knowledge for the future.