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The Birth of Tragedy (1872) was Nietzsche's first book. Its youthful faults were exposed by Nietzsche in the brilliant "Attempt at a Self-Criticism" which he added to the new edition of 1886. But the book, whatever its excesses, remains one of the most relevant statements on tragedy ever penned. It exploded the conception of Greek culture that was prevalent down through the Victorian era, and it sounded themes developed in the twentieth century by classicists, existentialists, psychoanalysts, and others.
The Case of Wagner (1888) was one Nietzsche's last books, and his wittiest. In attitude and style it is diametrically opposed to The Birth of Tragedy. Both works transcend their ostensible subjects and deal with art and culture, as well as the problems of the modern age generally.
Each book in itself gives us an inadequate idea of its author; together, they furnish a striking image of Nietzsche's thought. The distinguished new translations by Walter Kaufmann superbly reflect in English Nietzsche's idiom and the vitality of his style. Professor Kaufmann has also furnished running footnote commentaries, relevant passages from Nietzsche's correspondence, a bibliography, and, for the first time in any edition, an extensive index to each book.
Nietzsche's first and last great books sound the themes that remain at the heart of present day philosophical and cultural debates and dilemmas.
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James Murnahan
reviewed The Birth of Tragedy and the Case of Wagner on April 02, 2014
The Birth of Tragedy and the Case of Wagner
If you haven't read the extant Greek tragedians, it would be extremely surprising to me if you found The Birth of Tragedy anything other than incomprehensible. If you want a thorough understanding, you'd also have to have a decent command of Schopenhauer, Plato, and Goethe, just to name a few.
Personally, I've delved into the Greek playwrights as of late, so I came at this book from that angle -- to see what he had to say about Aeschylus for example -- rather than the point of view of reading another Nietzsche book. I can say that having read the Greeks, the sections mentioning them were easier to understand. In total, it must be said, there aren't too many sections where he refers directly to a particular play or playwright; very little would be seen as what I would call commentary. Still, reading Nietzsche's thoughts on Greek tragedy was a pleasure, and seeing what he took from them -- opinions that became the foundations of a nascent philosophy -- gives me more appreciation for him as a writer, philosopher and person. His clowning on Euripides as someone who flat out didn't get Aeschylus was interesting. His critique of Socrates vis-a-vis Euripides was awesome. His statement that Greek tragedy is a Hegelian synthesis of primordial and dream forces? Maybe I wouldn't have put it that way, but he certainly felt something when he read the Oresteia, and it's pretty powerful to share that level of feeling with a guy like him. Plus, in this book he talks about primordial oneness, he sticks up for art that is unknowable, irrational. Could Nietzsche have something like personality brewing inside of him? Could he have, dare I say, spirituality?!?!
There's a lot of good stuff here. Plenty of one-liners and zingers too. The Case of Wagner was lost on me, but Kaufman is the man when it comes to Nietzsche, so get this volume should you choose to read Nietzsche's sterling debut.
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Add The Birth of Tragedy and the Case of Wagner, The Birth of Tragedy (1872) was Nietzsche's first book. Its youthful faults were exposed by Nietzsche in the brilliant Attempt at a Self-Criticism which he added to the new edition of 1886. But the book, whatever its excesses, remains one of the most re, The Birth of Tragedy and the Case of Wagner to the inventory that you are selling on WonderClubX
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Add The Birth of Tragedy and the Case of Wagner, The Birth of Tragedy (1872) was Nietzsche's first book. Its youthful faults were exposed by Nietzsche in the brilliant Attempt at a Self-Criticism which he added to the new edition of 1886. But the book, whatever its excesses, remains one of the most re, The Birth of Tragedy and the Case of Wagner to your collection on WonderClub |