Classical Centre: Goethe And Weimar 1775-1832 Hardcover

J. T. Reed

The literary work which Goethe produced and stimulated in his Weimar years - the greater part of his life - gave to a country which was not yet a nation the centre of artistic and intellectual authority it lacked. T. J. Reed's study traces the way this came about, against what social and politcal difficulties and literary opposition, and places the results in the larger context of German cultural history. The historical narrative is built up from a precise analysis of the major (and many minor) texts of the period, and weaves individual writers' careers persuasively into the broader pattern.

9780198158424

English

OUP Oxford

01 Jun 1990

270

this book...says an immense amount in a short space...it draws on a profound knowledge of European literature, its argument is coherent from beginning to end, it is compellingly written...it is the best monograph in English on German classicism in its historical context.' The Times Higher Education Supplement 'T.J. Reed...has produced a book as complete and exemplary as the high brief period he deals with, even down to the crisp memorability of its formulations.' British Book News 'this remains by far the best short study of Goethe and Weimar available in any language. ... informative and consistently stimulating book.German History 'by far the best study of Goethe and Weimar to appear in any language'