Cover of Autobiography

Autobiography

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Reading level
Fairly demanding
Price
Free

About the book

"Autobiography: Truth and Fiction Relating to My Life" by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is an autobiography written between 1811-1833. Goethe chronicles his first twenty-six years, from childhood in Frankfurt through passionate love affairs to his departure for Weimar in 1775. Blending scientific observation, historical context, and artistic license, he deliberately selected and shaped memories—some factual, some fictional—to create a vivid portrait of his development as a poet. The title itself warns readers: this is both truth and creative fiction interwoven.

  • Autobiographies
  • Authors, German
  • Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von, 1749-1832

Updated September 2026. Public domain in the USA. Text and summary from Project Gutenberg eBook #5733. Autobiography on Wikipedia.

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