Faust: My Soul Be Damned for the World

by E.A. Bucchianeri

  (Paperback edition now out of print).
 A comprehensive exploration of Dr. Faust, the man who sold his soul to the devil, and those who dared to tell his tale.

Volume I
* Insights into the life and times of the historical Dr. Faustus, the notorious occultist who declared the devil was his 'brother-in-law'.
* A detailed study of the Faust books and popular folk tales.
* Original discussions on Marlowe's drama and his 'atheistic' rendition of the Faustian myth, including a unique and controversial analysis of the A and B texts.
*The days of the Faust puppet plays.
*Lessing's unfinished Faust drama.

Volume II
*An in-depth account of J.W. von Goethe, his Faust, Parts One and Two, plus an examination of the early sketches of his classic drama.
*Unique, informative exposition of the chronological composition of Goethe's drama in connection with his biography showing every creative influence step by step.
* Includes revelations of Goethe's hidden symbolism in the text, his interest in history and science, the occult, alchemy, Freemasonry and his warnings to future generations.
       "As a compendium of useful facts, there's not likely to be a replacement any time soon. Bucchianeri pursues every avenue of Faustian analogue with a dogged persistence that would win accolades from Ahab. ... Bucchianeri's unceasing search for source materials brings together in one place the many texts that build the Faust legend from the late Middle Ages onward,..." - Dr. K.A. Laity, College of Saint Rose, Journal of Folklore Research

       "... two large-format volumes is sure to provide enterprising readers with a lavish diet of documentary matter, commentary, and conjecture on the Faust tradition from its medieval origins to the 'almost unapproachable zenith' which it attained in the year of Goethe's demise. ... Bucchianeri investigates each controversial incident in turn, drawing parallels with historical figures, Dante's Divine Comedy, Arthurian and other late medieval legends, and citing sources which range from the Bible to Copernican astronomy. ... The distinctive quality of Bucchianeri's commentary lies in tireless contextualization, with each incident in Faust's career related to specific historical events, cultural phenomena, or to background circumstances; ... In Volume II, key stages of Goethe's career are graphically recounted with the help of over two thousand footnotes ... there is no denying the near-boundless enthusiasm with which Bucchianeri approaches even the most recondite passages of Faust II." - Dr. Osman Durrani, University of Kent, Modern Language Review

Genres: Biography

434 pages, Paperback

First published September 16, 2008

About the author

E.A. Bucchianeri hails from the old Wild West, Virginia City, Nevada to be precise. A town made famous by its gold and silver mines, the Bonanza TV series, and Mark Twain who immortalized his experiences as a miner, journalist, and writer's blocked editor for the local paper in his autobiography "Roughing It". She later moved to Co. Tipperary Ireland, finished High School there at Loreto Academy and graduated from University College Cork. While classical music and musicology was her major, she loves to write. When not roughing through a case of writer's block, the author enjoys writing non-fiction. When the author is suffering that dreaded affliction, drowning in chocolate is the next best thing.

Bucchianeri currently lives in Fatima, Portugal. Vocation of a Gadfly is her second fiction novel, Book Two of the Gadfly Saga.


Visit the author's website for more information on the various publications and reviews received.

http://www.ea-bucchianeri.blogspot.pt

Includes links to Facebook pages, Blog, plus Goodreads and Linkedin pages.


Also, don't be fooled by "Out of Stock" or "Temporarily Out Of Stock" listings on Amazon ~ ALL books are in print! Click the 'Online Bookstores' under the titles to see a list of retailers carrying them, or, take down the book details, such as Title, Author, ISBN number and Publisher, and order a copy from your local bookstore.


EXTRA! EXTRA! Read all about it! Three books are ABSOLUTELY FREE in ebook form:

*)We Are Warned: The Prophecies of Marie-Julie Jahenny

*) Lord of the Rings: Apocalyptic Prophceies

*)Marie-Julie of the Crucifix. Stigmatist and Prophet


Or, you can just drop an e-mail and you will be sent a PDF file.

eabucchaineriATyahoo.com

Reviews

[Malcolm · Rating 4 out of 5]

E. A. Bucchianeri describes her two-volume work on the back cover as "a comprehensive exploration of Dr. Faust, the man who sold his soul to the devil, and those who lived to tell his tale."

"Comprehensive" is almost an understatement, for the scope and scholarship of this two-volume, large-format "Faust - My soul be damned for the world" is astonishing. Bucchianeri traces the evolution of the Faust legends and literature from the historical individual who called himself "Faustus" (c1466 - c1538) through early folktales and Christopher Marlowe's drama "The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus" (1604) to Goethe's closet drama "Faust: The Tragedy Part One" (1829) and "Faust: The Tragedy Part Two" (1832).

Clearly, the Faustian literature evolved with the times, and at each stage, Bucchianeri shows how the influences of the church, state, society and the education, upbringing and life experiences of the of the principal authors and commentators changed the intent and flavor of the legend. The Faust story, as Joseph L. Henderson notes in "Man and his Symbols" (Carl Jung, Ed.) dramatizes man's battle with the dark or negative side of his personality, the "'shadow' figure that Goethe describes as 'part of that power which, willing evil, finds the good.'"

One of the greatest strengths of Bucchianeri's work is in its heavily documented presentation of the vast symbolism found throughout the multiple versions of the legend.

The historical Dr. Faustus, Faust books and folk tales, Marlowe's drama with its "A and B texts," the puppet plays, and Lessing's unfinished drama comprise Volume I. At the outset, Bucchianeri writes, "Faust, the notorious reprobate who willingly forfeited his immortal soul to the devil in exchange of the fleeting illusory pleasures of the world as recounted in famous works of drama, literature, drama and music did not originate as the imaginary brainchild of a literary genius. A historical figure named 'Faust' did exist."

Separating the historical personage from the folklore that quickly arose in letters, pamphlets and that individual's own circulated exaggerations of his "powers"" requires careful research. "Faustus," was the title/pseudonym used by Georg Helmstetter who was born in or near Heidelberg, Germany in the mid-1400s. He was an educated man and, according to reports, an accurate astrologer. His self-aggrandizing claims of dark-side occult powers and an association with the Devil gave rise to the initial folklore and popular Faust books.

Bucchianeri brings order to the documented facts about Christopher Marlowe's contribution to the Faust legend during Elizabethan times. She writes that the poet and dramatist "recognized in the character of Faustus his personal cynicism in regard to the subject of religion and his ardent desire to accomplish great deeds in the world."

Here, as with the Goethe material, the author ostensibly presents readers with a miniature biography of the dramatist as a means of demonstrating important themes in the resulting play. Marlowe's difficult route to a college degree and his rebellious views and lifestyle play into his version of "Faust."

Goethe worked on "Faust" throughout his lifetime. Like Marlowe, Goethe had deep and basic questions about religion. He brought to "Faust" his youthful, manic-depressive mood swings and a wealth of study into subjects including the greater and lesser mysteries, alchemy and freemasons as Bucchianeri shows in Volume II.

Written in an academic style, "Faust - My soul be damned for the world," will be of especial interest to scholars as well as serious students of the Faust legends, Marlowe, and Goethe. The scope of work and impeccable research may, in fact, be definitive insofar as the development of the literary Faust is concerned.

Some readers will find the biographical detail about Marlowe and Goethe to be too lengthy, far exceeding that which is required to illustrate how their personalities and their lives and studies influenced their Faust dramas.

If a second edition of "Faust - My soul be damned for the world" is released, the work will be greatly strengthened by the addition of an introduction that explains how this work differs from earlier Faust literature, concise chapter summaries and additional subheads and sidebars to break up the ponderous sections of straight text, a biography showing the author's credentials for writing the book, and a comprehensive index.

That said, this work is a labor of love that greatly adds to our understanding of the literary Faust as he grew with the changing times.