Subject
Faust, -approximately 1540 -- Drama Books
Best books
Christopher Marlowe
The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus From the Quarto of 1604
"The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus" by Christopher Marlowe is an Elizabethan tragedy written in the late 16th century and first performed around 1594. A scholar sells his soul to the devil in exchange for magical powers, facilitated by the demon Mephistopheles. The play follows Faustus's rise as a magician and his ultimate downfall as damnation approaches. Blending classical tragedy with Elizabethan drama, it explores ambition, the limits of knowledge, Christian theology, and Renaissance humanism. The work survives in two distinct versions with ongoing scholarly debate about their significance.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Faust [part 1]. Translated Into English in the Original Metres
"Faust [part 1]" by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is a tragic play published in 1808. When the Devil wagers with God that he can corrupt the striving scholar Faust, a fateful pact is sealed in blood. Mephistopheles promises to serve Faust on Earth in exchange for his soul—but only if he can offer a moment so perfect that Faust wishes to stop striving forever. What follows is a dark journey of seduction, betrayal, and tragedy involving the innocent Gretchen, whose fate becomes entangled with Faust's dangerous bargain.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Faust: Der Tragödie erster Teil
"Faust: Der Tragödie erster Teil" by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is a tragedy published in 1808. The renowned scholar Dr. Heinrich Faust, disillusioned with knowledge and unable to enjoy life, makes a wager with the devil Mephistopheles. Transformed into a young man, Faust embarks on a journey that leads to a passionate affair with the innocent Margarete, called Gretchen. Their relationship spirals into tragedy, bringing death and destruction to those around them, while Mephistopheles schemes to win Faust's soul.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Faust: A Tragedy
"Faust: A Tragedy" by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is a tragic play in two parts, with Part One published in 1808 and Part Two in 1832. When Mephistopheles bets God he can corrupt the scholar Faust, a fateful wager begins. Faust agrees to serve the devil in the afterlife—but only if Mephistopheles can give him a moment so perfect he wishes it would last forever. What follows involves seduction, tragedy, and a journey through earthly and mystical realms, testing the limits of knowledge, desire, and redemption.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Faust: Eine Tragödie [erster Teil]
"Faust: Eine Tragödie [erster Teil]" by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is a tragedy published in 1808. The aging scholar Dr. Faust, dissatisfied with knowledge and unable to enjoy life, makes a pact with the devil Mephistopheles. Transformed into a young man, Faust embarks on a journey that leads to his seduction of the innocent Gretchen. Their relationship spirals into tragedy, bringing death and destruction, ultimately leaving Gretchen imprisoned and facing execution while Faust struggles to save her.
Christopher Marlowe
The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus From the Quarto of 1616
"The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus" by Christopher Marlowe is an Elizabethan tragedy written in the late 16th century and first performed around 1594. A scholar sells his soul to the devil in exchange for magical power, rising to greatness through his pact with Lucifer and the demon Mephistopheles. As Faustus wields his newfound abilities, he faces an ultimate reckoning when the price of his bargain comes due. This influential work explores ambition, the limits of knowledge, and the perilous cost of desire.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Faust: Der Tragödie zweiter Teil
"Faust: Der Tragödie zweiter Teil" by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is a dramatic work completed in 1831 and published in 1832. This continuation of Faust I follows the protagonist beyond personal struggle into ambitious social and political action. Faust pursues artistic creation, journeys through time to wed the classical beauty Helena, and grapples with questions of power and meaning. Through allegory and spectacle spanning five acts, Goethe explores whether human striving can achieve lasting change, culminating in themes of redemption and grace.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Faust — Part 1
"Faust — Part 1" by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is a tragic play first published in 1808. A scholar named Dr. Faust, dissatisfied with conventional knowledge, makes a dangerous pact with Mephistopheles, an agent of the Devil. In exchange for earthly fulfillment, Faust risks his soul. The wager begins in Heaven itself, where God allows the devil to test his favorite scholar. What follows is a journey through taverns, witchcraft, and forbidden love, as Faust pursues satisfaction and encounters the innocent Gretchen, whose fate becomes tragically entwined with his own desperate quest.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Faust: a Tragedy [part 1], Translated from the German of Goethe
"Faust: a Tragedy [part 1]" by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is a tragic play first published in 1808. A disillusioned scholar named Faust makes a fateful pact with Mephistopheles, an agent of the Devil: if Mephistopheles can satisfy him completely, Faust's soul belongs to Hell. Transformed into a young man, Faust pursues the innocent Gretchen, setting off a chain of seduction, tragedy, and destruction that tests the boundaries between damnation and salvation in what many consider German literature's greatest work.
Charles Gounod
Faust: A Lyric Drama in Five Acts
"Faust: A Lyric Drama in Five Acts" by Gounod, Barbier, and Carré is a grand opera composed in 1859. An aging scholar, despairing over a life wasted on fruitless studies, strikes a fateful bargain with the demonic Méphistophélès. Transformed into a handsome young man, Faust pursues the virtuous Marguerite, setting in motion a tragic tale of temptation, love, and damnation. Based on Goethe's legendary story, this five-act opera became one of the most frequently performed works in operatic history.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Fausto: Primera parte
"Fausto: Primera parte" by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is a drama published in 1808. This first part of Goethe's most famous work tells the story of Heinrich Faust, a scholar who makes a dangerous pact with the devil Mephistopheles. In exchange for infinite knowledge and earthly pleasures, Faust agrees to serve the demon in the afterlife. When Faust falls for a young woman named Gretchen, their romance leads to tragedy involving death, madness, and murder, testing the boundaries of his soul.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Faust [première partie]
"Faust [première partie]" by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is a tragedy published in 1808. The aging scholar Heinrich Faust, dissatisfied with the limits of knowledge and unable to enjoy life's fullness, makes a wager with the devil Mephistopheles. In exchange for his soul, Mephisto promises to free Faust from discontent through constant diversion. Transformed into a young man, Faust is led into a passionate affair with the innocent Margarete, setting in motion events that bring devastating consequences to all involved.
Recently surfaced classics