2019/01/11

The Goethe Haus





Goethe’s house is much more important looking, but to English eyes far from being the palatial residence which some German writers think it. The entrance hall is certainly very imposing, with its statues in niches and broad stair-case. The latter was made after his own design and was an aftershine of Italian tastes. (…) G. had obtained permission from Frau von Goethe to see the Studier- and Schlafzimmer (study and bedroom) which are not open to the public, and here our feelings were deeply moved. 
– from George Eliot, Recollections of Weimar


 Audio Comment by Bob Muscutt





The bedroom is very small. By the side of the bed stands a stuffed arm chair where he used to sit and read while he drank his coffee in the morning. It was not until very late in his life that he adopted this luxury of an arm-chair. (…) Among such memorials one breathes deeply and the tears rush to one’s eyes.
– from George Eliot, Recollections of Weimar



Extended reading from George Eliot, Recollections of Weimar, by Margot Erbslöh and Susanne Monnerjahn.



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