Customer Reviews

The Fortunes of Faust (Magic in History Series)

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The Fortunes of Faust is the third in a series of works on the evolution of the Faust tradition. As a librarian who is an avid reader and collector of Faustian lore and works written about this "historical character," I have found in Ms. Butler's work a most provocative and scholarly study. Her writing style is clear and studied. She takes the readers through the evolution of the Faust tradition and its roots in the practice of magic. Ms. Butler provides details that even this student of Faust found informative - whether it is her insights about the Spiess' Urfaustbook and the German Faust,thoughts on Martin Luther, the variety of hybrid and miscellaneous Fausts up through Goethe's Faust among others. The author views Marlowe's Fautus "the greatest of all the tragic versions the legend has inspired." The Fortunes of Faust is a compelling drama of the role of magic in history through the character of Faust. This is a fascinating read especially for anyone with an interest in the Faust legend