A treatise that grew out of sustained debate and discussion with Bishop's (German language and literature, U. of Glasgow) students and colleagues. He examines the German author's interest in Stoical thought and investigates the Stoical notions at work in the 1808-09 novel that translates Elective Affinities. Finding a Stoical Discourse present throughout, he offers new views without trying to explain away the complexity of what is generally considered one of Goethe's most difficult works.
