Play in the Age of Goethe: Theories, Narratives, and Practices of Play around 1800 (New Studies in the Age of Goethe)

Play in the Age of Goethe is a groundbreaking book that explores the historical development and contemporary relevance of play.

Drawing on the works of major authors from the period, including Lessing, Goethe, Kant, Schiller, Pestalozzi, Jacobi, Tieck, Jean Paul, Schleiermacher, and Fröbel, this book sheds new light on the debates around play in German letters of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

By examining the philosophical, pedagogical, psychological, political, and poetic dimensions of play during this time, Play in the Age of Goethe offers a richer and more complex understanding of the concept than previously thought.

The book also engages with contemporary theories of play, demonstrating how the foundational discourses of the past continue to shape our understanding of play today.

Whether you are a scholar of German literature, a psychologist interested in the history of play theory, or simply someone who loves to play, this book is sure to captivate and inspire.