The Cambridge Companion to Goethe

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.

• Covers not only Goethe’s literary work, but his scientific writings, his theatre work, his autobiography and correspondence, and his religious, political and philosophical views • Well supported by a detailed chronology and bibliography • Offers a range of critical approaches

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.