Page:The Works of J. W. von Goethe, Volume 13.djvu/15

Preface to the Second Edition There was, perhaps, some temerity in attempting a ״ Life of Goethe ״ at a time when no German author had undertaken the task ; but the reception which my work has met with, even after the appearance of the biographies by Viehoff and Schafer, is a justification of the temerity. The sale of thirteen thousand copies in England and Germany, and the sympathy gener- ously expressed, not unmingled, it is true, with adverse and even angry criticism, are assurances that my labours were not wholly misdirected, however far they may have fallen short of their aim. For the expres- sions of sympathy, pubhc and private, I cannot but be grateful ; and I have done my best to profit by criti- cism even when it was most hostile. I wish to make special mention of the assist- ance tendered me by the late Mr. Franz Demmler. Although a stranger to me, this accomphshed student of Goethe kindly volunteered, amid many and press- ing avocations, to re-read my book with the express purpose of annotating it; and he sent me several sheets of notes and objections, all displaying the vigour of his mind, and the variety of his reading. Some of these I was glad to use ; and even those which I could not agree with or adopt, were always carefully considered. On certain points our opinions were diametrically opposed ; but it was always an advan- tage to me to read criticisms so frank and acute. The present edition is altered in form and in sub- stance. It has been rewritten in parts, with a view not only of introducing all the new material which