Faust

Weary of scholarship that has taught him everything and satisfied nothing, the aging Doctor Faust strikes a bargain with the devil. Mephistopheles will serve him on Earth and grant him every experience he desires, on the condition that Faust forfeits his soul the moment he begs a passing instant to stay because it is so beautiful. Restored to youth, Faust pursues the innocent Gretchen, and their love story turns to tragedy. Goethe worked on this drama for most of his life, and Part One stands among the towering achievements of German literature, blending folk legend, lyric poetry, and hard questions about desire and salvation. This free PDF and EPUB edition presents the first part in English translation.