Delphi Collected Works of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe \(Illustrated\) pdfdrive com

WILHELM MEISTER’S JOURNEYMAN YEARS

OR WILHELM’S TRAVELS

Translated by Albert Högni Stefánsson Gunlogsen Published in 1821,

Goethe’s fourth and final novel is a sequel to the Bildungsroman Wilhelm

Meister’s Apprenticeship. The novel received mixed reviews at first and only

gained full critical attention much later in the mid-twentieth century. Consisting

largely of short stories and novellas, woven together with elements of an

epistolary novel and several interspersed poems, its structure challenged the

typical conventions of a novel at the time of its first publication. Goethe revised

the novel in 1829, which included significant alterations; a translation of the

latter text is provided in this edition.

The novel opens with the Biblical title “Flight into Egypt,” in which Wilhelm

and  Felix,  his  son,  encounter  a  family  in  the  course  of  their  travels.  Felix

befriends  the  boys  of  the  family,  and  returns  with  them  to  their  residence.

Wilhelm,  declining  their  invitation  to  come  as  well,  returns  to  his  lodge  at  the

mountaintop and writes to Natalie. The chapter closes with this letter. Wilhelm

speaks here of his wish to be with her, and also comments on the rules guiding

his travels: “Not more than three days shall I remain under one roof. I shall leave

no lodging without distancing myself at least one mile from it.”

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The first edition

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CONTENTS

BOOK I.

CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER II.

CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER IV.

CHAPTER V.

CHAPTER VI.

CHAPTER VII.

CHAPTER VIII.

CHAPTER IX.

CHAPTER X.

CHAPTER XI.

CHAPTER XII.

BOOK II.

CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER II.

CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER IV.

CHAPTER V.

CHAPTER VI.

CHAPTER VII.

CHAPTER IX.

CHAPTER X.

CHAPTER XI.

CHAPTER XII.

BOOK III.

CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER II.

CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER IV.

CHAPTER V.

CHAPTER VI.

CHAPTER VII.

CHAPTER VIII.

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CHAPTER IX.

CHAPTER X.

CHAPTER XI.

CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER XIII.

CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XV.

CHAPTER XVI.

CHAPTER XVII.

CHAPTER XVIII.

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Goethe at the time of the second edition’s publication, 1829

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