ドイツを代表する文豪にして、科学者、政治家、芸術評論家でもあったヨハン＝ヴォルフガング・フォン・ゲーテ（1789-1832）の生涯と業績を探ります。小説、戯曲、紀行文、自伝、そして芸術や美学に関する小論から浮かび上がる「愛」「自然」「宗教」「悲劇」といったテーマを分析し、物静かな賢人といった固定概念を捨て、創作活動の背景にどれだけの激しい対立があったかや、近年の研究からその全体像が明らかになった科学者・政治活動家としての顔を浮き彫りにします。(cf. The Sorrows of Young Werther (Oxford World's Classics) ほか)
　　

• Covers the life of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832), and all his major works
• Discusses the (often controversial) research which has changed the image of Goethe in the last few decades
• Places Goethe in his historical context (the Holy Roman Empire; the Napoleonic Wars), and considers how this aids our understanding of his works

  
In 1878 the Victorian critic Matthew Arnold wrote: 'Goethe is the greatest poet of modern times... because having a very considerable gift for poetry, he was at the same time, in the width, depth, and richness of his criticism of life, by far our greatest modern man.'
  
In this Very Short Introduction Ritchie Robertson covers the life and work of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832): scientist, administrator, artist, art critic and supreme literary writer in a vast variety of genres. Looking at Goethe's poetry, novels and drama pieces, as well as his travel writing, autobiography, and essays on art and aesthetics, Robertson analyses some of the key themes in his works: love, nature, religion and tragedy. Dispelling the misconception of Goethe as a sedate Victorian sage, Robertson shows how much of his art was rooted in turbulent personal conflicts, and draws on recent research to present a complete portrait of the scientific work and political activity which accompanied Goethe's writings.