Faust: Der Tragödie erster Teil, published in 1808, is widely regarded as the greatest work in the German language. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s verse drama follows the learned but despairing Dr. Faust as he strikes a wager with the devil Mephistopheles — trading his soul for knowledge and earthly experience — and falls catastrophically in love with the innocent Gretchen.
Rich with lyric poetry, philosophical depth, and theatrical spectacle, Faust Part One raises enduring questions about human ambition, desire, and redemption. Download this free public-domain EPUB to read Goethe’s masterpiece in the original German.