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Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Biography, Books & Where to Start

1749–1832 · Frankfurt am Main, Germany · also known as Goethe

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe booksJohann Wolfgang von Goethe biographyFaustThe Sorrows of Young WertherWilhelm Meister’s ApprenticeshipElective AffinitiesGoethe

Who was Johann Wolfgang von Goethe?

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is Germany’s Shakespeare — poet, novelist, playwright, scientist and statesman. His short novel The Sorrows of Young Werther (1774), about a young man destroyed by unrequited love, made him famous across Europe at 24. He spent most of his life in Weimar as a minister at the ducal court, and worked for some sixty years on Faust, the scholar who bargains with the devil Mephistopheles — Part One appeared in 1808, Part Two in 1832, the year he died. Germany’s cultural institute, the Goethe-Institut, is named after him.

Where to start

Begin with The Sorrows of Young Werther.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s books, in order

  1. The Sorrows of Young Werther (1774) Read free →
  2. Wilhelm Meister’s Apprenticeship (1795)
    Free at: Project Gutenberg · Standard Ebooks · LibriVox · Wikisource · Internet Archive · Open Library Find a free edition →
  3. Faust (1808) — Part One 1808, Part Two 1832. Read free →
  4. Elective Affinities (1809)
    Free at: Project Gutenberg · Standard Ebooks · LibriVox · Wikisource · Internet Archive · Open Library Find a free edition →

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More German authors

Friedrich Schiller · Brothers Grimm · E. T. A. Hoffmann · Theodor Fontane · Thomas Mann · Franz Kafka · Hermann Hesse · Erich Maria Remarque

Frequently asked questions

Who was Johann Wolfgang von Goethe?

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is Germany’s Shakespeare — poet, novelist, playwright, scientist and statesman. His short novel The Sorrows of Young Werther (1774), about a young man destroyed by unrequited love, made him famous across Europe at 24.

What is Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s most famous book?

Faust is usually considered Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s best-known work, followed by The Sorrows of Young Werther, Wilhelm Meister’s Apprenticeship, Elective Affinities.

Which Johann Wolfgang von Goethe book should I read first?

Most readers start with The Sorrows of Young Werther.

Is it Johann Wolfgang von Goethe or Goethe?

Both refer to the same writer.

Can I read Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s books free online?

Yes — 2 of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s books are free to read online in Pagine, the free e-reader and reading tracker.

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