The Cambridge Companion to Goethe

The Cambridge Companion to Goethe provides a stimulating and accessible survey of this versatile figure.

Lesley Sharpe (Edited by)

9780521662116, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 2 May 2002

294 pages
23.7 x 15.8 x 2.4 cm, 0.582 kg

"In a word, this is without a doubt a highly useful book...It should be of great use to the non-Germanist, and certainly should find its place in many an introductory undergraduate and graduate class." German Studies Review, Horst Lange

The Cambridge Companion to Goethe provides a challenging yet accessible survey of this versatile figure, not only one of the world's greatest writers but also a theatre director and art critic, a natural scientist and state administrator. The volume places Goethe in the context of the Germany and Europe of his lifetime. His literary work is covered in individual chapters on poetry, drama (with a separate chapter on Faust), prose fiction and autobiography. Other chapters deal with his work in the Weimar Theatre, his friendship with Schiller, his scientific studies and writings, his engagement with the visual arts, with religion and philosophy, the controversies surrounding his political standpoint and the impact of feminist criticism. A wide-ranging survey of reception inside and outside Germany and an extensive guide to further reading round off this volume, which will appeal to students and specialists alike.

List of contributors
Acknowledgements
List of abbreviations
Chronology
Introduction Lesley Sharpe
1. The world Goethe lived in: Germany and Europe, 1750–1830 Thomas P. Saine
2. Goethe the writer and literary history Nicholas Saul
3. Goethe the poet John R. Williams
4. Goethe the dramatist David V. Pugh
5. Faust Jane K. Brown
6. Weimar Classicism: Goethe's alliance with Schiller T. J. Reed
7. Goethe and the Weimar theatre Lesley Sharpe
8. Goethe's prose fiction Martin Swales
9. Autobiographical writings Dennis F. Mahoney
10. In defence of experience: Goethe's natural investigations and scientific culture Daniel Steuer
11. Goethe and gender Barbara Becker-Cantarino
12. Goethe and the visual arts Beate Allert
13. Goethe and the political world W. Daniel Wilson
14. Religion and philosophy H. B. Nisbet
15. Reception in Germany and abroad Gerhart Hoffmeister
A guide to further reading
General index
Index of Goethe's works.

Subject Areas: Literary studies: c 1800 to c 1900 [DSBF]