“Für Naturen wie die meine ist eine Reise unschätzbar: Sie belebt, berichtigt, belehrt und bildet.” - Goethe, der Weltbürger (Citizen of the World)
Biographical Summary
Germany and the world celebrated Goethe's 250th birthday in 1999. The German novelist, poet, playwright, and scientist Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was born in Frankfurt am Main on August 28, 1749. But he didn't stay there. (See "Places identified with Goethe" below.) Goethe (GUEH-tah) is a giant in German and world literature. In fact, he coined the term Weltliteratur and spoke Greek, Latin, French, English and Italian. Aside from its quality, the sheer volume of work during his 82-year lifetime is impressive. Among other works, Goethe wrote a worldwide, best-selling novel (Die Leiden des Jungen Werthers, 1774), volumes of poetry, and several dramas, including his masterwork: Faust — a massive two-volume work that was not entirely finished by the time of the poet's death. Goethe also dabbled in painting and science ("Farbenlehre"/"Theory of Color"), although his greatest achievements by far were in literature.
In the early 21st century, the "Gothic Shakespeare" has become a somewhat controversial figure in the German-speaking world. A landslide of Goethe biographies coinciding with the 250th anniversary of his birth (in the 18th century) brought into question many aspects of the person who became the king of German literature. Many of his biographers have tried to demystify the legend and shed more light on the man by questioning everything from his sexual preferences to his religious views. But no one can dispute Goethe's impact on Germany's literary legacy as well as Weltliteratur.
Goethe's works include:
Goethe-Gedichte (Goethe Poetry) with English translations Works including: "Erlkönig," "Nähe des Geliebten," "Totentanz," "Wandrers Nachtlied II," and "Faust" excerpts
Götz von Berlichingen (1773, drama)
Die Leiden des jungen Werthers / The Sorrows of Young Werther (1774, novel)
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