On Shakespeare's Day

Though it circulated only in manuscript during Goethe’s lifetime, this fiery speech was eventually printed in a mid-19th-century literary journal. In hindsight it reads like a declaration of aesthetic intent by a nascent genius: Goethe marshals poetic language, classical allusions and drama-talk to turn Shakespeare into a model for bold expression. By proclaiming that art should serve the soul and not slavishly follow the ancients, the address embodies the Sturm und Drang spirit. Today it is often mentioned as a vivid curiosity – a young Goethe’s eloquent outburst that already anticipates the Romantic era’s emphasis on genius and individual will, and underlines his role in ushering a new cultural mood in German letters.

This critical reader's edition offers a fresh, modern translation of the original manuscript in Fraktur (the old German script), designed to help any curious reader delve into Goethe's works, using clear, contemporary language and straightforward sentences to bring to life his romantic ideas. It includes supplementary material providing autobiographical, historical, and linguistic context to this 18th century work- including an afterword by the translator discussing Goethe’s history, impact, and intellectual legacy, alongside an index of the philosophical concepts he explored—with a focus on Romanticism and Classicism. Included is a comprehensive chronological list of his published writings and a detailed timeline of his life, highlighting the personal relationships that profoundly influenced his philosophy.