Selected Poetry of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (Penguin Classics)

This new, bilingual selection of Goethe's poetry is very good. The editor and translator, David Luke, has brought together one volume of some of Goethe's best. Luke presents the poems in chronological order, allowing the reader to follow the development of Goethe's genius over his long and fruitful career.This volume includes 100 of Goethe's best and most famous, including "An den Mond," an early poem and one of my personal favorites, and extensive selections from Goethe's masterpiece, Faust. The selection is very broad--you're sure to find something you like in this one.The only real flaw is easily overlooked... if you speak German. The book is bilingual--Goethe's originals face translations by Luke, the book's editor. Luke's translations are good, but not great. He strains the meaning and accuracy in an effort at rhyme and meter. Sometimes it works; many times it doesn't. I'd still recommend this book to people who don't speak German, but with the reservation that the English translations pale in comparison to the originals.All in all, though, a very good book--money well-spent.Highly recommended.

fine edition.....great selection but i would much prefer an inelegant prose translation than more "poetic" license by the imaginative translator.....

The translations in this volume are mediocre and misleading. To illustrate what I find so objectionable, let's look at a line from Goethe's "Prometheus":"Und meine Huette, die du nicht gebaut, / Und meinen Herd, / Und dessen Glut, / Du mich beneidest."Our translator gives:"And my hut which you did not build / And my hearth, the glowing / Home fire which fills you / With such envy."A literal translation would be closer to:"And my hut which you did not build / And my hearth, / And its glow that / You envy."Naturally, there are different schools of thought regarding translation, but a first-rate poet like Goethe is extremely sensitive to the power and the function of words. The unwarranted addition by the translator of the redundant "glowing home fire which fills you" completely alters the sense of the line, and bloats its graceful economy with stuffy ornamentation.This is what you'll find in this collection - translations that substantially modify and reorder Goethe's lines, in allegiance to David Luke's aesthetic sensibility, which is completely inscrutable to me.

This is a bi-lingual edition of selected poetry of Goethe. Since I can read a little German I very much appreciate the German texts. But I was surprised to read that there had been an earlier edition which supplied only literal prose versions of the poems, which I would much prefer. Goethe is untranslatable and the efforts of translators to provide "poetical" translations invariably results in drivel, as well as misrepresenting the original texts, and this book is no exception. In short, better than nothing, but not much better.

Beautifully idiomatic translations of poems by Goeth selected to illustrate his evolution as a writer over his long life span. The introduction is particularly insightful and prepares the reader for an informed reading of what follows.

The rhythm of Goethe's poetry is something I would hate to have missed by reading it only in English translation. A bi-lingual edition is the best way to enjoy the insights and the dancing sounds of his words.

Great selection of Goethe’s poetry

The delivery was prompt and in good condition. The book was in good condition but not as good as listed. However, still a good buy.

If, like me, you're new to Goethe but enjoy poetry, then this is a great place to start.David Luke's translation is full of life and brings this great poets best works to you in a simple and very readable format. The introduction is a fascinating insight to Goethes life and the poems chosen resonate with a fear, lust and passion that is both relevant and refreshing.This is no dusty old collection but a careful selection that is overflowing with breathtaking power and colour.An interesting addition is the original German alongside each translation,if you're multilingual you can compare' if you're not it's a facinating insight into couplets working in another language.This may well lead you further into Goethes works or can stand very respectably as your one point of reference, either way if you enjoy poetry then this is a superb volume that is well worth your time and represents excellent value for money.Buy with full confidence.

Toll! Wenn man nicht dad versteht, sollte man es nicht kaufen!(Apologies for my probably awful use of cases, it's too late for me to bother thinking too much about it)