In 1878 the Victorian critic Matthew Arnold wrote: 'Goethe is the greatest poet of modern times... because having a very considerable gift for poetry, he was at the same time, in the width, depth, and richness of his criticism of life, by far our greatest modern man.' In this Very Short Introduction Ritchie Robertson covers the life and work of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832): scientist, administrator, artist, art critic and supreme literary writer in a vast variety of genres. Looking at Goethe's poetry, novels and ...
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In 1878 the Victorian critic Matthew Arnold wrote: 'Goethe is the greatest poet of modern times... because having a very considerable gift for poetry, he was at the same time, in the width, depth, and richness of his criticism of life, by far our greatest modern man.' In this Very Short Introduction Ritchie Robertson covers the life and work of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832): scientist, administrator, artist, art critic and supreme literary writer in a vast variety of genres. Looking at Goethe's poetry, novels and drama pieces, as well as his travel writing, autobiography, and essays on art and aesthetics, Robertson analyses some of the key themes in his works: love, nature, religion and tragedy. Dispelling the misconception of Goethe as a sedate Victorian sage, Robertson shows how much of his art was rooted in turbulent personal conflicts, and draws on recent research to present a complete portrait of the scientific work and political activity which accompanied Goethe's writings. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
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The Very Short Introductions Series of Oxford University Press aims to provide "stimulating ways into new subjects". Ritchie Robertson's 2016 book for the series on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1789 -- 1832) takes a life of extraordinary complexity and achievement and crystallizes it less than 150 dense pages. Robertson, Taylor Professor of German at Oxford, has written prolifically on German literature and on the Enlightenment. He is an ideal choice for writing this short introduction on Goethe for the benefit both of new readers and for those readers wishing a brief summary of scholarly thinking about the Sage of Weimar. In his Preface, Robertson states that he has endeavored to write a "personal book, in which, without forcing my presence on the reader, I have tried to express my own views on why Goethe matters and why his main works remain endlessly rewarding." He succeeds well in this aim.
This book concentrates on Goethe's writings and accomplishments more than on the details of his life. However, there is considerable treatment of his many erotically charged relationships with women and with his frequent tendency to fall in love with unattainable women. Robertson ties in well the romantic experiences of Goethe's life with many of his writings.
The book is in six chapters organized by subjects, including love, nature, classical art and world literature, politics, tragedy, and religion. Robertson tries to give an account of Goethe's views on these broad matters and to relate them to his writings and work. The figures that stand out for me in this book include Plato, Enlightenment thinkers, and, Spinoza. Robertson also places Goethe within the context of the historical events of his time in his discussions of the French Revolution, Napoleon, the Holy Roman Empire, and, always, the Enlightenment.
The book begins with a study of Goethe's famous early novel, "The Sorrows of Young Werther" which it uses as a point of entry to his work as a whole to explore the question of classicism and romanticism in Goethe. Throughout the book, Robertson discusses Goethe as a lyric poet with many brief examples from his large output. The book will impress the reader with the breadth of Goethe's output as Robertson discusses "Faust" "The Sorrow of William Meister", "William Meister's Apprenticeship" "Egmont", "Elective Affinities" and more. It is an embarrassment of riches to treat in a short book. The work is informative and succinct and left me wanting to know more.
The book gives attention to Goethe's interest and work in the natural sciences and to his political and governmental activities in Weimar. Robertson points out the limitations of Goethe's approach to science, together with his accomplishments. He also stresses Goethe's political conservatism, which was notable even in the context of the Germany of his day. In many ways, Goethe left his politics behind in the complexity and nuances of his writing.
I did not come to Goethe for the first time in reading this book. Robertson taught me a great deal and showed me how much I didn't know. One of the ways I have known Goethe is through listening to German lieder, including songs by Schubert, Schumann, Hugo Wolf, and others who set Goethe's poems. Goethe had little use for Schubert and brushed his work aside on two occasions. When I finished this book, I turned to listen to a CD of some of Schubert's settings of Goethe, including the famous "Gretchen at the Spinning Wheel" and his many "Mignon" songs from "William Meister". Thus I supplemented what I had learned from Robertson by returning to learn of the genius of Goethe through the different genius of Schubert.
Robertson's book offers an excellent introduction Goethe's work and thought. The book includes a list of recommended translations, a brief bibliography of recommended studies of Goethe in English, and a chronology of Goethe's life and works.
