Faust

by Goethe

Translated by Abraham Hayward

With illustrations by Willy Pogany

London : Hutchinson & Co

1908

First Trade Edition

Quarto, xx, 210 pages, publisher's original gilt lettered red cloth covered boards with pictorial decoration to top board. Top edge gilt. Illustrated throughout in full color. Some moderate rubbing and wear, rear hinge fraying, hinges cracked, several plates and tissue guards detached, corners bumped, some discoloration, previous owner's inscription, else in good condition.

"Faust" by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is one of the most significant works in Western literature, representing the pinnacle of German Romanticism. The narrative follows Dr. Faust, a scholar dissatisfied with his life, who makes a pact with the devil, Mephistopheles, trading his soul for unlimited knowledge and worldly pleasures. The story explores themes of ambition, desire, and the quest for meaning, ultimately questioning the moral and spiritual costs of such a pursuit. Goethe's "Faust" is divided into two parts, published in 1808 and 1832, respectively. Part I deals with Faust's deal and his tragic romance with Gretchen, while Part II delves into broader philosophical questions and Faust's continued striving. Goethe's masterful use of poetic and dramatic elements, along with his profound philosophical insights, makes "Faust" a cornerstone of world literature, reflecting the complexities of human nature and the eternal struggle between good and evil​.

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