Reineke Fox (Reynard the Fox)

Building upon earlier versions like Luther’s prose adaptation and Gottsched’s translation, Goethe imbued the ancient tales with a new rhythmic vitality and psychological sharpness, crafting a world where deception triumphs over force, eloquent lies override truth, and survival depends on ruthless opportunism cloaked in legalistic sophistry. The poem’s enduring literary merit lies not merely in its entertaining picaresque structure, but in its unflinching, darkly comic portrayal of a cosmos governed by self-interest, where Reineke’s ultimate ascent to royal chancellor serves as the ultimate indictment of a system rewarding vice over virtue, reflecting Enlightenment skepticism about societal institutions through a timeless, grotesque allegory.

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 illuminate his complex 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.