Photo of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

3 series 25 books in order 20 standalone books

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) was a German writer and polymath whose works span poetry, drama, literature, theology, philosophy, pantheism, and science. His magnum opus, lauded as one of the peaks of world literature, is the two-part drama Faust. Other well-known works include his numerous poems, the Bildungsroman Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship, and the epistolary novel The Sorrows of Young Werther.

Born
1749
Known for
DTV Weltliteratur, Harvard Classics, Faust

Series by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

DTV Weltliteratur

3 books in order · 1790–1808

  1. Cover of Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre

    Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre

    1790 · Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

    Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship is the second novel by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, published in 1795–96. It is a Bildungsroman, or coming-of-age…

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  2. Der grüne Heinrich

    1800 · Gottfried Keller

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  3. Cover of Faust

    Faust

    1808 · Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

    This book is a comprehensive edition of Goethe's "Faust," including a complete annotated translation. It features interpretive notes, illustrations,…

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Harvard Classics

26 books in order · 1882–1909

  1. Cover of On the origin of species by means of natural selection

    On the origin of species by means of natural selection

    1882 · Charles Darwin

    This 1909 volume presents Charles Darwin's seminal work laying the foundations for the principles of evolutionary biology via natural selection,…

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  2. Virgil's Æneid

    1909 · Publius Vergilius Maro

    Virgil's Æneid is a 1909 book by Publius Vergilius Maro. It is part of the series Harvard Classics.

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  3. Letters of Marcus Tullius Cicero, with his Treatises on Friendship and Old Age

    1909 · Cicero and Pliny the Younger

    Letters of Marcus Tullius Cicero, with his Treatises on Friendship and Old Age is a 1909 book by Cicero, Pliny the Younger. It is part of the series…

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  4. Nine Greek Dramas

    1909 · Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and Aristophanes

    Nine Greek Dramas is a 1909 book by Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes. It is part of the series Harvard Classics.

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  5. Cover of Plutarch's lives of Themistocles, Pericles, Aristides, Alcibiades, and Coriolanus, Demosthenes, and Cicero, Cæsar and Antony

    Plutarch's lives of Themistocles, Pericles, Aristides, Alcibiades, and Coriolanus, Demosthenes, and Cicero, Cæsar and Antony

    1909 · Plutarch

    Plutarch's lives of Themistocles, Pericles, Aristides, Alcibiades, and Coriolanus, Demosthenes, and Cicero, Cæsar and Antony is a 1909 book by…

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  7. The Apology, Phædo, and Crito of Plato

    1909 · Plato, Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius

    The Apology, Phædo, and Crito of Plato is a 1909 book by Πλάτων, Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius. It is part of the series Harvard Classics.

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  8. The Confessions of St. Augustine

    1909 · Augustine of Hippo and Thomas à Kempis

    The Confessions of St. Augustine is a 1909 book by Augustine of Hippo, Thomas à Kempis. It is part of the series Harvard Classics.

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  9. Cover of The Odyssey

    The Odyssey

    1909 · Όμηρος

    The Odyssey is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer, and in part a sequel to the Iliad, the other work ascribed to him. It…

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Faust

2 books in order · 1808–1832

  1. Cover of Faust 1

    Faust 1

    1808 · Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

    Faust: A Tragedy is the first part of the tragic play Faust by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. It is considered by many to be the greatest work of German…

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  2. Faust, Part Two

    1832 · Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

    Faust: The Second Part of the Tragedy is the second part of the tragic play Faust by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. It was published in 1832, the year…

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Standalone books

  1. Cover of Wilhelm Meisters Wanderjahre oder Die Entsagenden
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  2. Cover of West-östlicher Divan
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  4. Cover of The Sorcerer's Apprentice
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  5. Cover of Hermann and Dorothea
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  6. Cover of The Green Snake and the Beautiful Lily
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  7. Cover of Heidenröslein
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  8. Cover of Der Fischer
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  9. Cover of Egmont
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  10. Cover of Iphigenie auf Tauris
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  11. Cover of Prometheus
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  12. Cover of Wanderers Nachtlied
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  13. Cover of Clavigo
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  14. Cover of Aus meinem Leben
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  15. Cover of Italienische Reise
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  16. Cover of Götz von Berlichingen
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  17. Cover of Theory Of Colours
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  18. Cover of Torquato Tasso
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  19. Cover of The Metamorphosis of Plants
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  20. Cover of Unterhaltungen deutscher Ausgewanderten
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Frequently asked questions

How many books has Johann Wolfgang von Goethe written?

We list 25 books by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe across 3 series, published between 1774–1909 — each shown in full reading order.

What order should I read Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's books?

Read each series in publication order. A good place to start is “Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre.” Open any series above for its complete numbered reading order.

Where can I buy Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's books?

Every title links to Amazon from its series page — see our affiliate disclosure in the footer for how that supports the site.

Reading order compiled from author/publisher guidance and verified bibliographic data. Spotted a wrong order, a missing book, or any other mistake? and we'll correct it.