Faust

Overview

Enduring legend of the old philosopher who sells his soul to the devil in exchange for knowledge and power. Retold here profoundly, in poetic form, by one of the giants of world literature.

Editorial Reviews

Editorial Reviews for this product are not available at this time.

Author Information

Bio of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was born in Frankfurt am Main. He was greatly influenced by his mother, who encouraged his literary aspirations. After troubles at school, he was taught at home and gained an exceptionally wide education. At the age of 16, Goethe began to study law at Leipzig University from 1765 to 1768, and he also studied drawing with Adam Oeser. After a period of illness, he resumed his studies in Strasbourg from 1770 to 1771. Goethe practiced law in Frankfurt for two years and in Wetzlar for a year. He contributed to the Frankfurter Gelehrte Anzeigen from 1772 to 1773, and in 1774 he published his first novel, self-revelatory Die Leiden des Jungen Werthers. In 1775 he was welcomed by Duke Karl August into the small court of Weimar, where he worked in several governmental offices. He was a council member and member of the war commission, director of roads and services, and managed the financial affairs of the court. Goethe was released from day-to-day governmental duties to concentrate on writing, although he was still general supervisor for arts and sciences, and director of the court theatres. In the 1790s Goethe contributed to Friedrich von Schiller's journal Die Horen, published Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship, and continued his writings on the ideals of arts and literature in his own journal, Propyl'en. The first part of his masterwork, Faust, appeared in 1808, and the second part in 1832. Goethe had worked for most of his life on this drama, and was based on Christopher Marlowe's Faust. From 1791 to 1817, Goethe was the director of the court theatres. He advised Duke Carl August on mining and Jena University, which for a short time attracted the most prominent figures in German philosophy. He edited Kunst and Altertum and Zur Naturwissenschaft. Goethe died in Weimar on March 22, 1832. He and Duke Schiller are buried together, in a mausoleum in the ducal cemetery.

Customer Reviews

• Unexpected Ending

  Posted January 22, 2008 by Jade, USA

  After hearing about this story for a long time I decided to read it. There was really only one part that I didn't understand and that is where Faust makes his own deal with the Devil. If I understood correctly then he was saying that should he fail to die an idle death (a meaningless one-as I take it) then his soul is his own. I have to say that I read the story thinking there would be some last minute redemption and was surprised to find out that there was not. The ending was abrupt and had me wondering if I downloaded the entire book or only a portion of it. What Faust did to Margaret was awful. All that wanting to spend every second with her and then he ditches her in the end after it was too late-at least for her. Of course what Mephistopheles did to Martha was cruel as well; the only thing is that he is evil and it is expected of him. I did enjoy the lyrical tone of the writing but admit that there were a few sections in which I was lost as to what exactly was going on. The party towards the end is an example of this. It can be an enjoyable read but I have a feeling that this is a play that would be easier understood visually.

Additional Info

Imprint

CONNECT eBooks Classics

Filesize

1.76 MB

Number of Pages

N/A

eBook ISBN

9781434000842