Goethe was the Shakespeare of German literature. Goethe's personality shows through everywhere in his writings, and many readers have found Goethe himself to be even more fascinating than the characters in his stories and poems. Goethe was born in Frankfurt, Germany, on August 28, 1749.

He wrote his first plays for a small puppet theater, a gift from his grandmother. The critic Herder introduced him to old German folktales and to the best of English literature translated into German.

Goethe returned to Frankfurt to practice law but turned to writing almost immediately. In 1773 his drama 'Goetz von Berlichingen' was published, and the following year he wrote 'The Sorrows of Young Werther'. Both works were strongly influenced by the Sturm und Drang (Storm and Stress) literary movement that was sweeping Germany. 'The Sorrows of Young Werther' made Goethe well known throughout Europe.

Because of Goethe, Weimar became the intellectual center of Germany. Many great authors, composers, and artists came to live in the town. Among them was the poet and writer Friedrich Schiller. He and Goethe became close friends and helped each other in their writings. Today a statue of the two stands in Weimar. Goethe's fame spread over Europe and to the United States. After meeting him, Napoleon I exclaimed, "There is a man!"

Goethe died in Weimar on March 22, 1832.