Faust is a tragic play by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, regarded as the greatest work of German literature. The first part, published in 1808, tells of a scholar, Heinrich Faust, who is dissatisfied with learning and makes a pact with the devil Mephistopheles, wagering that nothing will ever make him content. The story includes Faust's love for a young woman, Gretchen, which ends in tragedy. Goethe worked on the play for most of his life, and the second part, a far more allegorical drama, appeared only after his death in 1832. The work draws on an older legend of a magician who sold his soul and has inspired many operas, novels and other works.
Before and after
- 4 July 1807Birth of Giuseppe Garibaldi
- 7 July 1807Treaties of Tilsit
- from 16 August 1807 to 5 September 1807Battle of Copenhagen
- from 19 November 1807 to 30 November 1807Invasion of Portugal
- 1808Publication of Faust
- 1808Discovery of calcium
- 16 January 1808Founding of Italian Stock Exchange
- from 21 February 1808 to 17 September 1809Finnish War
- 20 April 1808Birth of Napoleon III
More in Art, literature & culture
- 1792Publication of La Marseillaise
- 5 May 1821Founding of The Guardian
- 7 May 1824Beethoven's Ninth Symphony premieres
- 7 April 1837Publication of The Little Mermaid
- c. 1860sImpressionism
- 19 March 1882Construction of Basilica and Expiatory Church of the Holy Family
The era
This moment belongs to the Industrial era (1760 CE to 1914 CE), steam, factories and revolutions. You can also browse everything in the 19th century.