Faust Parts I & II

Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von (1749–1832), translated by Kline, A. S. (contact-email)

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A new complete verse translation of Goethe’s Faust Part I and II, with stage directions, line numbers and illustrations by Eugène Delacroix. Faust is a seminal work in the Romantic literary canon, encapsulating the era’s quintessential quest for knowledge and meaning beyond the mundane. Comprising two parts, it was completed in Goethe’s later years. The first part deals with Faust’s bargain with Mephistopheles and the consequent downfall of Gretchen, while the second part, written during Goethe’s later life, reflects a philosophical evolution to broader themes, including an appreciation for antiquity. The narrative does not simply adhere to conventional notions of sin and redemption but instead focuses on the protagonist’s pursuit of virtue and the inherent fallibility of mankind. With its allegorical breadth, the drama permits multiple interpretations, often diverging from strict religious dogma. Its influence on subsequent German intellectual and literary trajectories is profound, confirming Goethe’s status as a major literary figure.

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Kline, A. S.

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