Goethe: The Poet and the Age: Volume I: The Poetry of Desire (1749-1790) (Goethe - The Poet & the Age)
In this first volume of a biography of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Boyle (Cambridge Univ.) attempts to place the genius in his age, both as an enlightened observer of the politics, science, and art of his day, and as the superb poet who brought German literature into a national consciousness of its own place. This lengthy study is directed to the educated reader unfamiliar with German language or literature, as well as to the student of Goethe. Quoted passages are given in the German original and in translation. Chapter sections are alternatively biographical or literary criticism. The exhaustive detail (with numerous footnotes) is at times overwhelming. This will become the definitive English work on Goethe for the 20th century, as George Henry Lewe's outstanding biography ( Life of Goethe , 1855) was for the 19th century. Recommended for all academic libraries.- Ingrid Schierling, Univ. of Colorado, Colorado SpringsCopyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.