Werke. Nationalausgabe: Im Auftrag des Goethe- und Schiller-Archivs, des Schiller-Nationalmuseums und der Deutschen Akademie, hrsg. von Julius Petersen und Gerhard Fricke

The Nationalausgabe of Friedrich Schiller’s works is widely regarded as the definitive scholarly edition of the playwright and philosopher’s canon. Commissioned by the Goethe- und Schiller-Archiv in Weimar and supported by the Schiller-Nationalmuseum and the Deutsche Akademie, the project was conceived to provide a comprehensive, critical text based on meticulous archival research. Work began in the early 20th century under the guidance of editors such as Julius Petersen and Gerhard Fricke, with the goal of creating a standardized corpus that could serve as the bedrock for all future academic study of Schiller.

The design and editorial philosophy behind this collection reflect the rigorous standards of German philology during the mid-20th century. By incorporating extensive variants, historical commentary, and exhaustive footnotes, the editors sought to move beyond the popular editions of the time to offer a transparent look at the evolution of Schiller’s writing. The edition has been received by scholars for decades as an essential reference, praised for its profound depth of research and its role in preserving the integrity of German literary history through changing political landscapes.