Comments on: What We’re Reading: Goethe and Mann

By: Timothy

Timothy — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 03:56:57 +0000

You’re right, of course, that there’s something special that happens when an author links her or himself to another author by way of response to a piece. Whole new avenues of meaning are opened up when the reader begins to explore how an author arrived at and viewed about piece of literature.

By: Timothy

Timothy — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 03:46:15 +0000

I have to admit—and this is terrible coming from a theatre major—that I’ve yet to read “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead,” though I’ve heard nothing but the highest of praise for it. Thanks for the input, Sam! I’ll let you know when I (finally) read Stoppard’s play!

By: Timothy

Timothy — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 03:41:09 +0000

Thanks for the suggestion, Patrick! I'll try to find Pike's translation. Let me know how your quest to read the various Faustus' goes!

By: Sam Ferree

Sam Ferree — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 19:14:08 +0000

I’ve only ever read Goethe’s Faust and so I really should get around to The Woes of Young Werther.

In response to your question, my favorite derivative work (or work inspired by another… whatever) is “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead.” Very little to say about the play that doesn’t boil down to “it’s genius.”

Though I recently saw Jen Silverman’s “And Humbaba came from His Mighty House of Cedar,” a terrific reinterpretation of the Epic of Gilgamesh. It’s dark, Brechtian deconstruction of the hero myth and hysterical. I was entertained.

By: Wren

Wren — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 22:34:33 +0000

Like Patrick (and probably even more so), my knowledge of German literature is somewhat embarrassing. I’m intrigued by your review, perhaps mostly because I am especially drawn to texts that are responses to the other. This dialogue between writers seems to be something sacred, and I’m always curious what about the original text prompted the response. Anyway, I’m rambling now. Point is: I’ll be picking up copies of these two books soon (though hopefully better translations than the ones you encountered) to add to my never-ending “Must Read” pile o’ books.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 02:14:52 +0000

There is a newer translation of Werther that I read a couple years ago. From what I remember, though still true to the original tone, it clears up a lot of the Victorianisms. Burton Pike, I think, out from Modern Library. It's my aspiration to read Marlowe's Dr. Faustus, Goethe's Faust, and Mann's Doctor Faustus. My knowledge of German literature is underwhelming, and I need to change that. As long as I don't read any more Günter Grass.