Goethe and the Ginkgo: A Tree and a Poem

by Siegfried Unseld

In 1815, Goethe gave symbolic expression to his intense relationship with Marianne Willemer, a recently married woman thirty-five years his junior. He gave her a leaf from the ginkgo tree, explaining that, like its deeply cleft yet still whole leaf, he was single yet twofold. Although it is not known if their relationship was ever consummated, they did exchange love poetry, and Goethe published several of Marianne's poems in his "West-East Divan" without crediting her authorship.
In this beautiful little book, renowned Goethe scholar Siegfried Unseld considers what this episode means to our estimation of a writer many consider nearly godlike in stature. Unseld begins by exploring the botanical and medical lore of the ginkgo, including the use of its nut as an aphrodisiac and anti-aging serum. He then delves into Goethe's writings for the light they shed on his relationship with Marianne. Unseld reveals Goethe as a great yet human being, subject, as any other man, to the vagaries of passion.

Genres: Nonfiction, Poetry, German Literature

280 pages, ebook

First published May 1, 2003

Reviews

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

In dieser kleinen, 125-seitigen, Abhandlung geht es nicht nur um Goethes Gedicht sondern ganz allgemein um den Ginkgo, seine Verbreitung, seine Schreibweise, seine Wirkung. Der Verleger und Autor Unseld bringt den Ginkgo und Goethes Leben in den Kontext und erzählt nebenbei eine spannende und poetische Liebesgeschichte. Sehr gelungene hoch-literarische Unterhaltung und mMn auch als Geschenk gut geeignet. Mit vielen interessanten Abbildungen.

[Harald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wissenswertes über den Ginkgo Biloba, Goethes Beziehung zu Marianne Willemer und die Entstehungsgeschichte des west-östlichen Divans.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this in a used bookstore a dozen years ago and have read it several times since. I think if I had to choose a physical object to take with me onto my death bed, or if I practiced some sort of bibliomancy, this would be the book. Short, beautiful, interesting, peculiar, and suffused with the (to me) just really deep and lovely symbolism of the ginkgo leaf itself: is it one thing in two parts, or is it two things grown so close together as to be united? Anyway I met my future wife at that bookstore.

Goethe was a dirty old man but boy could he write.

[bunbun · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting look at Goethe’s work, specifically the parts of it that were inspired by, written for or written by Marianne von Willemer, and the poem about ginkgo tree. The book also gives a short overview of ginkgo tree and its history. The two parts are well merged together, however, it is highly specific topic and I wouldn’t recommend the book if you aren’t interested in either of the topics in the title, and even then, you will not get the exhaustive history or biology lesson nor will this book reveal some grandiose truth to you. It’s okay and it’s written from a very knowledgeable standpoint. A solid 3/10

[Juliane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was faszinierte Goethe am Ginkgo? Diese kleine Abhandlung gibt einen Einblick in Goethes Beziehung zum Ginkgo und in die Entstehungsgeschichte seines Gedichts "Ginkgo Biloba" aus dem Zyklus "West-östlicher Divan" welches Marianne von Willemer gewidmet war. Diese hatte ihn zu weiteren Gedichten inspiriert und nicht nur das, sondern auch eigene Gedichte verfasst, die Goethe unter seinem Namen im Buch "Suleika" veröffentlichte. Sehr interessant!