Goethe: a critical introduction

About this book

This is a concise survey and criticism of Goethe's work for the general reader and the student. It is intended as a useful first book from which the reader can go on to more specialized studies. Here Goethe's work is seen as a whole, and from the point of view of literary criticism. The first chapter summarizes Goethe's life. The rest of the book discusses the works, singly and in groups. Much attention is given to the poems; and there are two long chapters on Faust. Werther, Wilhelm Meister, Elective Affinities, and the Divan are given a chapter each, so are the dramatic works, the autobiographical writings, and the scientific work. A special feature of the book is that while Dr. Gray takes account of earlier criticism he does also try to see Goethe's work entirely afresh, and to reappraise it. This is a refreshing aspect of the book; by questioning the value of some works, Dr. Gray enhances that of others.