The World's Greatest Books — Volume 17 — Poetry and Drama

This is volume 17 of an ambitious early 20th-century anthology that sought to bring the world's greatest literature within reach of every educated reader. Edited by Arthur Mee and J.A. Hammerton, the collection gathers essential works of poetry and drama spanning centuries and national traditions. It opens with Goethe's "Goetz von Berlichingen," a vivid dramatization of a rebellious medieval knight navigating political intrigue, personal ambition, and the eternal tension between loyalty and freedom. The volume also features selections from Heine's piercing lyrical poetry and Goldsmith's theatrical wit, among other treasures. This is not a casual anthology but a curated gateway to the dramatic and poetic canon, intended for readers who want to encounter the peaks of human literary achievement in one substantial tome. The editing reflects a Victorian and Edwardian faith in literature as moral and spiritual nourishment, selecting works that were considered foundational to Western cultural literacy.