Contents
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Writing Faust and The Sorrows of Young Werther.
German literature · Weimar
- Born
- 28 August 1749
- Birthplace
- Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Died
- 22 March 1832
More people
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German writer whose work spans poetry, drama, fiction and scientific observation. His long career moved from youthful literary rebellion to a central position in Weimar’s cultural and political life.
Early life
Frankfurt household
Received an extensive private education in languages and other subjects.
Legal studies
Studied in Leipzig and Strasbourg before briefly practising law.
Career
- 1770s
Literary breakthrough
Early drama and fiction made him a leading voice of Sturm und Drang.
- 1775
Weimar service
Entered the service of Duke Carl August and took on administrative responsibilities.
- 1786–1788
Italian journey
Travelled through Italy, reshaping his artistic interests.
- 1790s–1830s
Mature writing
Worked across genres and developed a close creative exchange with Friedrich Schiller.
Selected work
The Sorrows of Young Werther
An epistolary novel about unrequited love became a European sensation.
Faust, Part One
A scholar’s pact with Mephistopheles sets desire and knowledge against moral responsibility.
Faust, Part Two
The completed drama expands into politics, myth and historical change.
Beyond work
Scientific interests
Investigated plant forms, anatomy and colour, sometimes opposing established explanations.
Family
Married Christiane Vulpius in 1806 after many years together.
Sources & photo credit
Biography ↗Life and work ↗Photo: Joseph Karl Stieler. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
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