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9780140449013 English 0140449019 Goethe viewed the writing of poetry as essentially autobiographical, and the works selected in this volume represent more than sixty years in the life of the poet. In early poems such as “Prometheus,†he rails against religion in an almost ecstatic fervor, while “To the Moon†is an enigmatic meditation on the end of a love affair. The Roman Elegies show Goethe’s use of Classical meters in an homage to ancient Rome and its poets, and “The Diary,†suppressed for more than a century, is a narrative poem whose eroticism is combined with its morality. In selections from Faust , arguably his greatest and most personal work, Goethe creates an exhilarating depiction of humankind’s eternal search for truth. “Faithful and felicitous, these verse translations . . . are an excellent introduction to [Goethe’s] genius.†— The Daily Telegraph (London), Goethe's Faust reworks the late medieval myth of Dr Faust, a brilliant scholar so disillusioned he resolves to make a contract or wager with Mephistopheles. The devil will do all he asks on Earth and seek to grant him a moment in life so glorious that he will wish it to last for ever. But if Faust does bid the moment stay, he falls to Mephisto and must serve him after death. In this first part of Goethe's great work the embittered thinker and Mephistopheles enter into their agreement, and soon Faust is living a life beyond his study and - in rejuvenated form - winning the love of the charming and beautiful Gretchen. But in this compelling tragedy of arrogance, unfulfilled desire and self-delusion, Faust, served by the devil, heads inexorably towards destruction. This major new translation by David Constantine conveys the innate lyrical liveliness of Goethe's original. The preface, by A. S. Byatt, considers Goethe's lifelong relationship with the myth of Faust and the play's influence on modern literature, Goethe's Faust reworks the late medieval myth of a brilliant scholar so disillusioned he resolves to make a contract with Mephistopheles. The devil will do all he asks on Earth and seeks to grant him a moment in life so glorious that he will wish it to last forever. But if Faust does bid the moment stay, he falls to Mephisto and must serve him after death. In this first part of Goethe's great work, the embittered thinker and Mephistopheles enter into their agreement, and soon Faust is living a rejuvenated life and winning the love of the beautiful Gretchen. But in this compelling tragedy of arrogance, unfulfilled desire, and self-delusion, Faust heads inexorably toward an infernal destruction.A.S. Byatt's preface considers Goethe's lifelong relationship with the myth of Faust and its influence on modern literatureIncludes an introduction by the translator, a chronology, suggestions for further reading, explanatory notes, and an addendum on the writing of Faust, Goethe's Faust reworks the late-medieval myth of Dr Faust, a brilliant scholar so disillusioned he resolves to make a contract or wager with the devil, Mephistopheles. The devil will do all he asks on Earth and seek to grant him a moment in life so glorious that he will wish it to last for ever. But if Faust does bid the moment stay, he falls to Mephisto and must serve him after death. In this first part of Goethe's great work the embittered thinker and Mephistopheles enter into their agreement, and soon Faust is living a life beyond his study and in rejuvenated form winning the love of the charming and beautiful Gretchen. But in this compelling tragedy of arrogance, unfulfilled desire and self-delusion, Faust, served by the devil, heads inexorably towards destruction.
9780140449013 English 0140449019 Goethe viewed the writing of poetry as essentially autobiographical, and the works selected in this volume represent more than sixty years in the life of the poet. In early poems such as “Prometheus,†he rails against religion in an almost ecstatic fervor, while “To the Moon†is an enigmatic meditation on the end of a love affair. The Roman Elegies show Goethe’s use of Classical meters in an homage to ancient Rome and its poets, and “The Diary,†suppressed for more than a century, is a narrative poem whose eroticism is combined with its morality. In selections from Faust , arguably his greatest and most personal work, Goethe creates an exhilarating depiction of humankind’s eternal search for truth. “Faithful and felicitous, these verse translations . . . are an excellent introduction to [Goethe’s] genius.†— The Daily Telegraph (London), Goethe's Faust reworks the late medieval myth of Dr Faust, a brilliant scholar so disillusioned he resolves to make a contract or wager with Mephistopheles. The devil will do all he asks on Earth and seek to grant him a moment in life so glorious that he will wish it to last for ever. But if Faust does bid the moment stay, he falls to Mephisto and must serve him after death. In this first part of Goethe's great work the embittered thinker and Mephistopheles enter into their agreement, and soon Faust is living a life beyond his study and - in rejuvenated form - winning the love of the charming and beautiful Gretchen. But in this compelling tragedy of arrogance, unfulfilled desire and self-delusion, Faust, served by the devil, heads inexorably towards destruction. This major new translation by David Constantine conveys the innate lyrical liveliness of Goethe's original. The preface, by A. S. Byatt, considers Goethe's lifelong relationship with the myth of Faust and the play's influence on modern literature, Goethe's Faust reworks the late medieval myth of a brilliant scholar so disillusioned he resolves to make a contract with Mephistopheles. The devil will do all he asks on Earth and seeks to grant him a moment in life so glorious that he will wish it to last forever. But if Faust does bid the moment stay, he falls to Mephisto and must serve him after death. In this first part of Goethe's great work, the embittered thinker and Mephistopheles enter into their agreement, and soon Faust is living a rejuvenated life and winning the love of the beautiful Gretchen. But in this compelling tragedy of arrogance, unfulfilled desire, and self-delusion, Faust heads inexorably toward an infernal destruction.A.S. Byatt's preface considers Goethe's lifelong relationship with the myth of Faust and its influence on modern literatureIncludes an introduction by the translator, a chronology, suggestions for further reading, explanatory notes, and an addendum on the writing of Faust, Goethe's Faust reworks the late-medieval myth of Dr Faust, a brilliant scholar so disillusioned he resolves to make a contract or wager with the devil, Mephistopheles. The devil will do all he asks on Earth and seek to grant him a moment in life so glorious that he will wish it to last for ever. But if Faust does bid the moment stay, he falls to Mephisto and must serve him after death. In this first part of Goethe's great work the embittered thinker and Mephistopheles enter into their agreement, and soon Faust is living a life beyond his study and in rejuvenated form winning the love of the charming and beautiful Gretchen. But in this compelling tragedy of arrogance, unfulfilled desire and self-delusion, Faust, served by the devil, heads inexorably towards destruction.