Faust
by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
German • Public Domain • Free to stream
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's Faust (Part I 1808, Part II 1832) is the supreme masterpiece of German literature. The aged scholar Heinrich Faust makes a wager with the devil Mephistopheles — his soul in exchange for a single moment of perfect satisfaction. The story takes him from a scholar's study to a young woman's love to the courts of emperors. A work of extraordinary depth, beauty, and ambition. Stream free in native German.
Über den Faust
Goethes „Faust" (1808) ist eines der größten Werke der deutschen Literatur und ein literarisches Gesamtkunstwerk von unerschöpflicher Tiefe. Das Drama zentriert sich um Dr. Heinrich Faust, einen hochbetagten Gelehrten, dessen rastlose Sehnsucht nach absoluter Erkenntnis ihn dazu treibt, einen Pakt mit Mephistopheles, dem Teufel, abzuschließen.
Im Austausch für Macht und unendliche Befriedigung verspricht Faust seine Seele, sollte ein Moment des Lebens ihn so erfüllen, dass er verweilen möchte. Das Drama entstand über Jahrzehnte hinweg und reflektiert Goethes eigene Entwicklung: von der Sturm-und-Drang-Rebellion seiner Jugend bis zur reifen Weisheit des Alters.
Zentral für das Werk ist Fausts Beziehung zu Gretchen (Margarethe), einer unschuldigen jungen Frau. Diese Liebe offenbart die moralischen Konsequenzen von Fausts Egoismus und zeigt, wie persönliche Erfüllung zum Preis anderer erkauft wird. Goethe verwebt Mythologie, Geschichte, Philosophie und Psychologie in einem epischen Drama, das ständig zwischen Pathos und Humor, Weisheit und Wahnsinn schwankt.
„Faust" behandelt zeitlose Fragen: Kann der Mensch echte Erfüllung finden? Welche Opfer sind dafür gerechtfertigt? Was macht uns menschlich? Das Werk bleibt unverzichtbar, weil es jeden Leser zwingt, seine eigenen Ambitionen und moralischen Grenzen zu hinterfragen.
About the book: Faust
The earliest forms of the work, known as the Urfaust, were developed between 1772 and 1775. The first appearance of the work in print was Faust, a Fragment, published in 1790. Goethe completed a preliminary version of what is now known as Part One in 1806, and its publication in 1808 was followed by the revised 1828–29 edition, the last to be edited by Goethe himself. Goethe finished writing Faust, Part Two in 1831, and it was published posthumously the following year.
Based on the German folk legend Faust, the tragic play in two parts focuses on a scholar, Heinrich Faust, who makes a pact with Mephistopheles, the Devil. While Part One explores the soul of Faust and his tragic involvement with Gretchen, Part Two shifts its focus to social phenomena such as psychology, history and politics, alongside mystical and philosophical topics. It is the play with the largest audience numbers on German-language stages and is considered by many to be Goethe's magnum opus and the greatest work of German literature.
In a letter dated 4 September 1820, Goethe wrote to his son August that the English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge was translating Faust.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Faust free to listen to?
Yes, Faust is completely free to stream. No account, no subscription, and no ads required. It is in the public domain.
Who wrote Faust?
Faust was written by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
Is Faust in the public domain?
Yes, Faust by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is in the public domain and free to read, share, and listen to worldwide.
How long is Faust to listen to?
Faust takes approximately 8 hours to listen to in full.
When was Faust written?
Faust was first published in 1808. It is now in the public domain and free to stream.
Who narrates Faust?
Faust uses AI multi-voice narration. Each character has a distinct voice — narrators, heroes, villains and supporting characters all sound different, making it easy to follow the story.
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What genre is Faust?
Faust is classic literature. It is a classic work of literature now in the public domain.