Goethes Werke: Hamburger Ausgabe in 14 Bänden. Autobiographische Schriften, 1 / textkritisch durchgesehen von Lieselotte Blumenthal, kommeniert von Erich Trunz

The Hamburger Ausgabe, or Hamburg Edition, was conceived in the immediate post-war period and published by Christian Wegner Verlag between 1948 and 1964. Under the editorial leadership of Erich Trunz, this monumental undertaking aimed to provide a definitive, academically rigorous, yet accessible collection of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's complete works, effectively establishing the gold standard for German literary scholarship for the latter half of the 20th century.

This specific volume, focusing on autobiographical writings, reflects the series' commitment to textual purity and exhaustive annotation. Lieselotte Blumenthal’s work as a text critic ensured that the scholarship adhered to the highest standards of the time, while Trunz’s commentary provided essential historical and biographical context. Upon its release, the edition was lauded by scholars for its clarity and balance, successfully bridging the gap between ivory-tower academic study and the needs of the educated public.