Product Description

The legend of Faust grew up in the sixteenth century, a time of transition between medieval and modern culture in Germany. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) adopted the story of the wandering conjuror who accepts Mephistopheles's offer of a pact, selling his soul for the devil's greater knowledge; over a period of 60 years he produced one of the greatest dramatic and poetic masterpieces of European literature.

David Luke's recent translation, specially commissioned for The World's Classics series, has all the virtues of previous classic translations of Faust, and none of their shortcomings. Cast in rhymed verse, following the original, it preserves the essence of Goethe's meaning without sacrifice to archaism or over-modern idiom. It is as near an `equivalent' rendering of the German as has been achieved.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #24514 in Books
• Published on: 1998-09-10
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Synopsis
The legend of Faust grew up in the sixteenth century, a time of transition between medieval and modern culture in Germany. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) adopted the story of the wandering conjuror who accepts Mephistopheles's offer of a pact, selling his soul for the devil's greater knowledge; over a period of 60 years he produced one of the greatest dramatic and poetic masterpieces of European literature. David Luke's recent translation, specially commissioned for The World's Classics series, has all the virtues of previous classic translations of Faust, and none of their shortcomings. Cast in rhymed verse, following the original, it preserves the essence of Goethe's meaning without sacrifice to archaism or over-modern idiom. It is as near an 'equivalent' rendering of the German as has been achieved.

Customer Reviews

Entertaining, readable and poetic translation of a classic
David Luke's translation of Faust is currently acknowledged to be the best, both for academic study and pleasurable reading. Personally I found it fascinating and amusing. Perhaps its most pleasurable and impressible achievement is the creation of a great poetic work in English whilst serving the contraints of a translation.

The book contains a vast introduction by the translator, David Luke, that explains the complexity of performing the translation and describes and discusses the themes and ideas in Goethe's play.

There are also comprehensive "explanatory notes" at the back, which unfortunately occasionally stray beyond the explanatory and into Luke's own opinion, which I think should be kept in the introduction. I would have preferred these notes to have remained absolutely factual so as not to cloud the reader's interpretation of the text.

This did not detract much from the highly enjoyable experience of reading the book. Most of my friends baulked when they saw what I was reading, but it's not heavy going at all, as most people seem to think if they haven't read it! Very highly recommended.