The Bucket List Collection: Masterpieces You Should Read Before You Die: Leaves of Grass, Siddhartha, Dubliners, Les Misérables, Don Quixote, Art of War, Middlemarch, Swann's Way…

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Stendhal, Jules Verne

The Bucket List Masterpieces You Should Read Before You Die stands as a monumental anthology that traverses the broad expanse of literary history, compiling works from the zenith of classic and modern literary traditions. This collection brings together an unparalleled ensemble of literary geniuses, each contributing to a tapestry of thematic diversity that ranges from existential inquiries, moral dilemmas, to the celebration of human spirit and imagination. The anthology showcases a variety of literary styles, from the nuanced psychological realism of the 19th century to the intricate structures of classical poetry, highlighting the evolutionary trajectory of literary expression across eras and cultures. The inclusion of seminal pieces from each author without specific attribution emphasizes the collective brilliance that defines this anthology. The backgrounds of the contributing authors and editors collectively represent a vibrant spectrum of historical periods, cultures, and literary movements. From the philosophical depths of ancient Greece, through the Renaissance's rebirth of learning, to the complex social fabrics of the 19th and early 20th centuries, this collection reflects a convergence of cultural narratives that have shaped human thought and literary expression. The contributing authors, recognized as pillars in their respective domains, bring authenticity and profound insights into the universal themes that pervade the human experience. Their works, which align with significant literary and cultural movements, offer readers an immersive journey through the landscapes of romance, tragedy, comedy, and satire, providing a multifaceted understanding of the world as seen through the eyes of literary giants. The Bucket List Collection is recommended to readers who seek not only to witness the marvels of literary achievements across ages but also to gain a comprehensive understanding of the myriad ways through which literature can mirror, challenge, and transcend reality. Delving into this collection promises an enlightening voyage that enriches the reader's worldview, inviting them to partake in a dialogue that transcends time and space, linking them to the collective human journey through the ages. For scholars, students, and enthusiasts alike, this anthology stands as a beacon of literary exploration, offering an unmatched opportunity to engage with the thoughts and imaginations that have continually redefined the boundaries of what literature can achieve.

60586 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 9, 2023

About the author

A master of poetry, drama, and the novel, German writer and scientist Johann Wolfgang von Goethe spent 50 years on his two-part dramatic poem Faust , published in 1808 and 1832, also conducted scientific research in various fields, notably botany, and held several governmental positions.

George Eliot called him "Germany's greatest man of letters... and the last true polymath to walk the earth." Works span the fields of literature, theology, and humanism.
People laud this magnum opus as one of the peaks of world literature. Other well-known literary works include his numerous poems, the Bildungsroman Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship and the epistolary novel The Sorrows of Young Werther .

With this key figure of German literature, the movement of Weimar classicism in the late 18th and early 19th centuries coincided with Enlightenment, sentimentality (Empfindsamkeit), Sturm und Drang, and Romanticism. The author of the scientific text Theory of Colours , he influenced Darwin with his focus on plant morphology. He also long served as the privy councilor ("Geheimrat") of the duchy of Weimar.

Goethe took great interest in the literatures of England, France, Italy, classical Greece, Persia, and Arabia and originated the concept of Weltliteratur ("world literature"). Despite his major, virtually immeasurable influence on German philosophy especially on the generation of Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel and Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph von Schelling, he expressly and decidedly refrained from practicing philosophy in the rarefied sense.

Influence spread across Europe, and for the next century, his works inspired much music, drama, poetry and philosophy. Many persons consider Goethe the most important writer in the German language and one of the most important thinkers in western culture as well. Early in his career, however, he wondered about painting, perhaps his true vocation; late in his life, he expressed the expectation that people ultimately would remember his work in optics.