Translated, with an Introduction and Notes by John R. Williams

Based on the fable of a man who traded his soul for superhuman powers and knowledge, Faust became the life's work of Germany's greatest poet. It is a compelling dramatic poem that charts the life of a deeply flawed individual and his fight against despair and the nihilism of the diabolical Mephistopheles; it is also a symbolic and panoramic commentary both on the human condition and on modern history and culture.
This edition presents Part One of Faust in a new translation that preserves the poetic character of the original, its style and diction, its tragic pathos and hilarious comedy. In addition, John Williams has translated the Urfaust, an early draft of Part One that offers a fascinating glimpse into the younger Goethe's imagination, and the sensational draft scenarios of the witches' Sabbath - material so ribald and blasphemous that Goethe did not dare publish it.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) was a poet, playwright and novelist. He trained as a lawyer but his heart was not in the profession. He then held an important cabinet post at the ducal court in the Weimar, was a theatre director, and carried out extensive research in anatomy, botany and physics. He was initially a leading figure in the 'Sturm und Drang' movement, but a trip to Italy opened his eyes to the classical world and led to his most creative period. The university of Goethe's genius is undisputed and he has been called the greatest humanist of modern times.