Faust, Part One (AmazonClassics Edition)

Faust, a scholar, finds himself in the midst of despair, realizing that his worldly pursuits and studies have been a farce. It’s then that he makes a pact with Mephistopheles, who promises to serve Faust, grant his every wish, and give him purpose again―a virtual heaven on earth. There’s just one catch: upon Faust’s death, it will be he who will serve―in hell.

In one of the greatest works of German literature, Goethe explores the human need for meaning and the desire for power over one’s own fate, regardless of the consequences.

AmazonClassics brings you timeless works from the masters of storytelling. Ideal for anyone who wants to read a great work for the first time or rediscover an old favorite, these new editions open the door to literature’s most unforgettable characters and beloved worlds.

Revised edition: Previously published as Faust, Part One, this edition of Faust, Part One (AmazonClassics Edition) includes editorial revisions.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) was a German civil servant, philosopher, statesman, public reformist, and prolific man of letters. As acting director of the theater at Weimar, Goethe was an early participant in the Sturm und Drang movement―one that encouraged extremes of emotion in the arts. But it was Goethe’s work as a writer that made him an ennobled celebrity by the time he was twenty-four. His wide-ranging career encompassed playwriting, epic and lyric poetry, prose and verse dramas, memoirs, novels, literary criticism, and notable scientific treatises. Goethe’s tragedy Faust is considered his magnum opus.