Montblanc – Writers Edition Homage to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

At the heart of the 18th-century intellectual movement was one man whose words transcend time: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. A polymath, a giant of German literature, a lawyer, a government minister, a theater director, as well as a prodigious collector and naturalist, he was a revolutionary through and through, constantly pushing the boundaries of perception and learning. Driven by an insatiable thirst for knowledge, his creative versatility knew no bounds. The philosophical depth of Faust, the lyrical sophistication of his poetry, and the breadth of scientific exploration underlying his theory of colors and his botanical treatises were epochal in significance and testify, in their diversity and far-reaching influence, to Goethe’s genius. As poet and statesman, advisor, friend, and lover, he left an indelible mark on the world around him and remains a source of inspiration and vision today. With the support of the Klassik Stiftung Weimar and the Goethe National Museum that houses it, Montblanc dedicates its Writers Edition Homage to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Limited Edition to this universal genius, focusing specifically on his literary works. Writing was Goethe’s lifeblood. The most complete edition of his works and writings currently comprises 40 volumes, containing approximately 3,000 poems. His drama Götz von Berlichingen, the Iron Hand, was published anonymously in 1773, but just a year later, during a period of frenetic activity, he wrote The Sorrows of Young Werther in less than four weeks, which made the twenty-five-year-old lawyer suddenly famous. Young Werther brought German literature to the European literary scene. It is the story of a young man torn between love and duty, burning passion and social convention. An entire generation recognized itself in the fate of the unfortunate Werther. The novel also influenced this limited edition: its evocative description of marble inspired the look of the precious lacquer on the cap and barrel, while the engraving on the barrel ring recalls the frame of a copperplate illustration from an early edition of Werther.