Goethe

As a dramatist and lyric poet Goethe stands second only to Shakespeare. His greatest literary achievement is, of course, Faust, which in many ways epitomises his own life and which he spent his whole life writing and rewriting. But besides this wealth of literary achievement Johann Wolfgang von Goethe also led a full and active life in other spheres. He held a ministerial position at weimar and took an active interest in public affairs. He was also an eminent philosopher and a keenly interested scientist. Emotionally he was a warm and passionate man, and his love affairs have been perpetuated in his work.