Brief lives: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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Widely considered the father of German literature, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a polymath whose life and thoughts made a huge impact on European philosophy, science, and literature. This scrupulously-researched biography explores the philosophical preoccupations that drove Goethe to become a prolific poet, novelist, and playwright, and also examines the ways in which he was both influenced by and exerted influenced upon the tenets of the European Enlightenment. Erudite but accessible, this is an engaging look at one of history’s most influential thinkers and authors.