Gotthold Ephraim Lessing - His Life, Works, and Thought

Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (1729-1781) is the most eminent literary figure of the German Enlightenment and a writer of European significance. His range of interest as dramatist, poet, critic, philosopher, theologian, philologist and much else besides was comparable to that of Voltaire, Diderot, and Rousseau, with all of whose ideas he engaged. He contributed decisively to the emergence of German as a literary language and was the founder of modern German literature, urging his compatriots to look to England rather than France for literary inspiration. His major plays (including the classic drama on religious tolerance, Nathan the Wise) are still regularly performed. He was a brilliant controversialist, and his philosophical and religious writings profoundly shook traditional assumptions. This book sets his life and work in the context of the intellectual, social, and cultural background of eighteenth-century Europe.

Product details

• Authors: H. B. Nisbet, Hugh Barr Nisbet, Hugh Barr (Emeritus Professor of German Nisbet, Hugh Barr H. Nisbet, Nisbet Hugh Barr
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 26.09.2013
• EAN: 9780199679478
• ISBN: 978-0-19-967947-8
• No. of pages: 750
• Subjects: Fiction > Narrative literature > Letters, diaries; Non-fiction book > Art, literature > Biographies, autobiographies; Modern history to 20th century: c 1700 to c 1900, History, BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Literary Figures, Biography: literary, Germany, HISTORY / General, PHILOSOPHY / History & Surveys / Modern, LITERARY CRITICISM / European / German, LITERARY CRITICISM / Modern / General, 19th century, c 1800 to c 1899, 18th century, c 1700 to c 1799, Literary studies: c 1500 to c 1800, Literary studies: c 1600 to c 1800, Biography: writers, Western philosophy: Enlightenment, C 1700 To C 1800