Faust

When man petitions the heavens, is it God or the devil who answers? This question, central to the human experience, is the driving force behind Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s seminal 1806 play, Faust. Based loosely on the facts and dramatized retellings of 15th century alchemist, astrologer, and magician Johann Georg Faust, the play follows Faust’s search for limitless understanding and wisdom through magical means outside the realms of science and religion. The devil, keen to prove to God that he can lead one his servants away from righteous pursuits, presents himself to Faust as the enigmatic Mephistopheles and offers him a bargain: He will serve Faust in life, but in return Faust must serve him in death. Goethe, not satisfied with joining in the long tradition of ‘deal with the devil’ stories, augments his telling by arriving at the distinctly modern conclusion that “He who strives on and lives to strive / Can earn redemption still.” In the end, Faust is not punished for his drive to know more but rewarded for his unwavering spirit even in the face of hardship, horror, and the knowledge that no single moment can bring eternal bliss. Since our inception in 2020, Mint Editions has kept sustainability and innovation at the forefront of our mission. Each and every Mint Edition title gets a fresh, professionally typeset manuscript and a dazzling new cover, all while maintaining the integrity of the original book. With thousands of titles in our collection, we aim to spotlight diverse public domain works to help them find modern audiences. Mint Editions celebrates a breadth of literary works, curated from both canonical and overlooked classics from writers around the globe.