---
product_id: 1695171
title: "Faust, Part One (Oxford World's Classics)"
price: "€ 23.17"
currency: EUR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 8
url: https://www.desertcart.gr/products/1695171-faust-part-one-oxford-worlds-classics
store_origin: GR
region: Greece
---

# Faust, Part One (Oxford World's Classics)

**Price:** € 23.17
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Faust, Part One (Oxford World's Classics)
- **How much does it cost?** € 23.17 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.gr](https://www.desertcart.gr/products/1695171-faust-part-one-oxford-worlds-classics)

## Best For

- Customers looking for quality international products

## Why This Product

- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Description

desertcart.com: Faust, Part One (Oxford World's Classics): 9780199536214: Goethe, J. W. von, Luke, David: Books

Review: A pleasure to read. - Faust: Part One (Oxford World's Classic) Goethe's "Faust" is arguably the most important milestone in Romantic literature. Taking the famous medieval legend of Dr. Faustus and his pact with the devil, Goethe adapted the tale of old, and transformed it into a great love story, and a probing poetical tract on the nature of good and evil, salvation and damnation, failing and striving, the innate search for truth and lasting fulfilment. Part One (first published 1808) features Faust's disgust with his life and the world at large, and attempting to unite with the Spirit of creation and soar above the petty corporality of earth, the proud old scholar is dashed to the ground, for he must first work his salvation out on earth by the sweat of his brow before he can be admitted into the presence of the Deity. In desperation, Faust tries to commit suicide, but then makes a wager with the devil: if Mephistopheles can show him that one moment of bliss he is searching for and succeeds in persuading him to cease all his human striving for that one moment, then his soul is forfeit. The devil agrees to the wager, grants Faust the gift of youth, and the adventures begin. He meets young Margareta and falls in love, a romance that leads to tragedy for the innocent maiden. David Luke's award-winning translation is one of the best I have read. While the rhythms do jar on occasion, this does not take away from the `flow' of this rendition. There will always be discrepancies when a text is taken out of its original language in any case, so it is more constructive to concentrate on the `readability', this translation succeeds in portraying the mood of Goethe's text and the personalities of his vibrant characters. In some instances, it may be argued the translation is too modern, for example, lines [2065 -2070] when Mephistopheles prepares his magic flying cloak for their journey to a new life of youthful debauchery: "One merely spreads one's cloak--you'll find It give us aerial elevation. Though, please, this bold step for mankind, Imposes luggage-limitation. I'll set the burners going, heat some air, and lo! We travel light, the earth lies far below." Did Neil Armstrong land on the moon in Goethe's time? Of course not, but Luke's witty lines humorously displays Mephistopheles' rakish personality and has become one of my personal favourites in this English edition. The book features an informative introduction on Goethe's biography and the composition of Part One and includes a graph displaying how he edited and added to the scenes until he arrived at the text we know today. There is also a select bibliography, a general chronology of Goethe's life and career, and helpful explanatory endnotes for those who wish to study the details of the text more thoroughly. For "Urfaust" scholars, Luke highlights the lines that were part of Goethe's early draft. E.A. Bucchianeri, author of ...
Review: Buy this book! - This David Luke (Oxford) translation is from 1987. It is very readable and poetic, without sacrificing accuracy. I have three different translations of Faust and this is, by far, my favorite. I highly recommend to all. In addition, I would recommend you buy the Norton Critical Second Edition of Faust by Walter Arndt and Cyrus Hamlin. You get the full translation of Faust, plus, nearly 400 additional pages of interpretive notes, contextual artwork, chronologies, comments by contemporaries, and modern criticisms. Unfortunately, the Arndt translation (Norton) felt archaic; like reading the King James Version of the Bible. However, all the supplementary information is invaluable. Whereas Luke’s translation is fluid and modern. I read both the Oxford and the Norton books at the same time and they complemented each other perfectly. The Norton Critical edition is better than taking a graduate course on Faust. You walk away with an understanding, not only of Faust, but also of Goethe, the German and European cultural milieu of Goethe’s time, and a good bit about theatre. Luke’s translation is compelling, emotive, and engaging! Viel Glück!

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #61,100 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #11 in Tragic Dramas & Plays (Books) #35 in European Dramas & Plays #704 in Classic Literature & Fiction |
| Customer Reviews | 4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars (1,200) |
| Dimensions  | 7.81 x 0.64 x 5.05 inches |
| Edition  | 1st |
| ISBN-10  | 019953621X |
| ISBN-13  | 978-0199536214 |
| Item Weight  | 7.1 ounces |
| Language  | English |
| Print length  | 240 pages |
| Publication date  | July 15, 2008 |
| Publisher  | Oxford University Press |
| Reading age  | 13 years and up |

## Images

![Faust, Part One (Oxford World's Classics) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61nBqFlz5XL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A pleasure to read.
*by E***I on December 4, 2008*

Faust: Part One (Oxford World's Classic) Goethe's "Faust" is arguably the most important milestone in Romantic literature. Taking the famous medieval legend of Dr. Faustus and his pact with the devil, Goethe adapted the tale of old, and transformed it into a great love story, and a probing poetical tract on the nature of good and evil, salvation and damnation, failing and striving, the innate search for truth and lasting fulfilment. Part One (first published 1808) features Faust's disgust with his life and the world at large, and attempting to unite with the Spirit of creation and soar above the petty corporality of earth, the proud old scholar is dashed to the ground, for he must first work his salvation out on earth by the sweat of his brow before he can be admitted into the presence of the Deity. In desperation, Faust tries to commit suicide, but then makes a wager with the devil: if Mephistopheles can show him that one moment of bliss he is searching for and succeeds in persuading him to cease all his human striving for that one moment, then his soul is forfeit. The devil agrees to the wager, grants Faust the gift of youth, and the adventures begin. He meets young Margareta and falls in love, a romance that leads to tragedy for the innocent maiden. David Luke's award-winning translation is one of the best I have read. While the rhythms do jar on occasion, this does not take away from the `flow' of this rendition. There will always be discrepancies when a text is taken out of its original language in any case, so it is more constructive to concentrate on the `readability', this translation succeeds in portraying the mood of Goethe's text and the personalities of his vibrant characters. In some instances, it may be argued the translation is too modern, for example, lines [2065 -2070] when Mephistopheles prepares his magic flying cloak for their journey to a new life of youthful debauchery: "One merely spreads one's cloak--you'll find It give us aerial elevation. Though, please, this bold step for mankind, Imposes luggage-limitation. I'll set the burners going, heat some air, and lo! We travel light, the earth lies far below." Did Neil Armstrong land on the moon in Goethe's time? Of course not, but Luke's witty lines humorously displays Mephistopheles' rakish personality and has become one of my personal favourites in this English edition. The book features an informative introduction on Goethe's biography and the composition of Part One and includes a graph displaying how he edited and added to the scenes until he arrived at the text we know today. There is also a select bibliography, a general chronology of Goethe's life and career, and helpful explanatory endnotes for those who wish to study the details of the text more thoroughly. For "Urfaust" scholars, Luke highlights the lines that were part of Goethe's early draft. E.A. Bucchianeri, author of ...

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Buy this book!
*by A***O on April 4, 2021*

This David Luke (Oxford) translation is from 1987. It is very readable and poetic, without sacrificing accuracy. I have three different translations of Faust and this is, by far, my favorite. I highly recommend to all. In addition, I would recommend you buy the Norton Critical Second Edition of Faust by Walter Arndt and Cyrus Hamlin. You get the full translation of Faust, plus, nearly 400 additional pages of interpretive notes, contextual artwork, chronologies, comments by contemporaries, and modern criticisms. Unfortunately, the Arndt translation (Norton) felt archaic; like reading the King James Version of the Bible. However, all the supplementary information is invaluable. Whereas Luke’s translation is fluid and modern. I read both the Oxford and the Norton books at the same time and they complemented each other perfectly. The Norton Critical edition is better than taking a graduate course on Faust. You walk away with an understanding, not only of Faust, but also of Goethe, the German and European cultural milieu of Goethe’s time, and a good bit about theatre. Luke’s translation is compelling, emotive, and engaging! Viel Glück!

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Translation is READABLE and CURRENT
*by M***A on February 1, 2015*

First, this translation is readable and fresh. The language and rhyme are straight forward and not overly flowery like other translations of this work. Second I didn't find this "masterpiece" inspiring or remarkable. I read this book because I have heard about the so-called genius of "Faust" referenced enough times that I believe being familiar with this work is valuable. This is the main reason I gave this book 4 stars. Translations of poems are notoriously unsatisfying, and there is plenty of amazing poetry in English concerning subjects/stories that aren't remarkable. I have no doubt that the essence of the original German version of "Faust" becomes diluted rhythmically and stylistically in the English version. I, personally, have no plans of learning German but people who loved this work probably will benefit from doing so. I am content with this translation.

## Frequently Bought Together

- Faust, Part One (Oxford World's Classics)
- Faust (Oxford World's Classics)
- Faust: Part 2 (Penguin Classics)

---

## Why Shop on Desertcart?

- 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016
- 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories
- 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price
- 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members)
- 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection
- ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews

**Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.gr/products/1695171-faust-part-one-oxford-worlds-classics](https://www.desertcart.gr/products/1695171-faust-part-one-oxford-worlds-classics)

---

*Product available on Desertcart Greece*
*Store origin: GR*
*Last updated: 2026-02-10*