Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) produced a large body of fine literature that includes novels, plays, stories, scientific treatises, travelogues, and other prose. His ballads, elegies, and lyric poems rank among his finest works. This dual-language edition, spanning a wide range of styles, forms, and moods, presents a rich selection of Goethe's verse in the original German with excellent line-for-line English translations on facing pages.
Featured masterworks include "Prometheus," typical of the Sturm und Drang (storm and stress) period; "Rastlose Liebe" ("Restless Love") and "An den Mond" ("To the Moon"), lyric pieces of intense beauty; the narrative ballads "Der Fischer" ("The Fisherman") and "Erlkönig" ("Elf King"); and other poems of timeless beauty and resonance. In addition to an informative introduction, this edition offers a commentary on each poem that will provide valuable insights for students, teachers, and other readers.