Eine Gruppe von Reisenden verbringt eine Nacht im sagenumwobenen, von Raeubern durchstreiften Spessart. Um ihre Angst zu vertreiben, erzaehlen sie sich Geschichten - die Sage vom Hirschgulden, Das kalte Herz, Saids Schicksale und Die Hoehle von Steenfoll. Diese spannungsgeladenen Maerchen besitzen einen besonderen Reiz, der in dem fabelhaften Zauber liegt, den sie in das gewoehnliche Menschenleben mischen.
"Ironisiert wird (...) das naive, unangefochtene Selbstverständnis, das eitel-vernünftige Bei-sich-Sein, die spannungslose Zufriedenheit, die gespenstische Sicherheit des bürgerlichen Daseins, auch dort, wo es sich, wie im Kater Murr ästhetisch-literarisch gibt."
From fire-stealing Prometheus to scene-stealing Helen of Troy, from Jason and his golden fleece to Oedipus and his mother, this collection of classic tales from Greek mythology demonstrates the inexhaustible vitality of a timeless cultural legacy. These stories of heroes and powerful gods and goddesses are set forth simply and movingly, in language that retains the power and drama of the original works by Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, and Homer. Introduction by Werner Jaeger With black-and-white illustrations throughout Part of the Pantheon Fairy Tale and Folklore Library
Goethe’s Faust reworks the late medieval myth of a brilliant scholar so disillusioned he resolves to make a contract with Mephistopheles. The devil will do all he asks on Earth and seeks to grant him a moment in life so glorious that he will wish it to last forever. But if Faust does bid the moment stay, he falls to Mephisto and must serve him after death. In this first part of Goethe’s great work, the embittered thinker and Mephistopheles enter into their agreement, and soon Faust is living a rejuvenated life and winning the love of the beautiful Gretchen. But in this compelling tragedy of arrogance, unfulfilled desire, and self-delusion, Faust heads inexorably toward an infernal destruction. The best translation of Faust available, this volume provides the original German text and its English counterpart on facing pages. Walter Kaufmann's translation conveys the poetic beauty and rhythm as well as the complex depth of Goethe's language. Includes Part One and selections from Part Two.