Sämtliche Werke. Briefe, Tagebücher und Gespräche. 40 in 45 Bänden in 2 Abteilungen

The idea of writing a life story that connects two seemingly exclusive principles—fiction and truth—has been widely discussed and often judged polemically. Goethe himself openly acknowledged the simpler interpretation that invention assists the facts where memory fails, while also referring to the higher meaning of truth encapsulated in that conceptual connection: “These are all results of my life, and the individual facts recounted merely serve to confirm a general observation, a higher truth.” From the idea of presenting his life in chronological order ultimately emerged the cultural history of his era. As a portrayal of his life and a reflection of the times, the elements of Goethe's autobiography come together just as their author evolves within his age, embodies it, and ultimately gives it his name. "Fiction and Truth" describes the early period of Goethe's life up to 1775 and is thus complemented by other autobiographical writings and testimonies to create a comprehensive picture of Goethe's life. Nevertheless, "Fiction and Truth" far surpasses them all. With this autobiography, the genre is fundamentally renewed, and it simultaneously stands as a model and masterpiece at the dawn of a new beginning.