The Faust-Legend and Goethe's 'Faust'

"The Faust-Legend and Goethe's 'Faust'" by H. B. Cotterill is an examination of the enduring Faust legend and, in particular, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's interpretation of it. Written in the early 20th century, the book grapples with the complex historical development of the Faust story and Goethe's unique philosophical contributions. Cotterill introduces the challenges in fully understanding the Faust narrative by looking at Goethe's focus on the 'living essence' of his work rather than a strict, intellectual analysis. The tale presents Faust as a character yearning for something beyond knowledge, a search that suggests both danger and deeper understanding.