The Robbers

Schiller, Friedrich, 1759-1805Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.2

Word count: 282K words
Chapters: 29

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today. The Robbers by Friedrich Schiller. Author: Schiller, Friedrich, 1759-1805. Language: English. Class: PT: Language and Literatures: Germanic, Scandinavian, and Icelandic literatures. Release Date: Dec 8, 2004.

Editor's review

The Robbers is Schiller's representative early drama, centering on fraternal conflict and family tragedy and pushing the clash between individual rebellion, moral dilemma, and social order to an extreme. The language is intense and the scenes vividly dramatic; the characters' wavering between passion and conscience supplies the main tension, making it well suited for observing the theatrical character of Germany's Sturm und Drang period. This edition is a Project Gutenberg English electronic text, convenient for searching and comparative reading, but it lacks translator's notes and an introductory guide, so readers must supply their own context on Schiller's life and eighteenth-century German theater. It should not be read merely as plot entertainment; attention should fall on the ethical debates in the dialogue and the consequences of the characters' choices, especially how the rebel is gradually undone by his own actions. Suitable as a primary text for theater enthusiasts, readers new to German literature, and those studying the intellectual history of the late Enlightenment.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in German theater and Sturm und Drang literature
Literature students who need to study Schiller's early plays
Theater lovers drawn to ethical conflict and family tragedy
Learners who wish to read a classic play alongside the English original

Not a good fit for

Casual readers who prefer light plots and happy endings
Beginners unaccustomed to dramatic form and long speeches
Newcomers expecting detailed notes and background commentary

Reading tips

Begin with the first act's character list and opening monologue, clarifying the brothers' relationship before entering the main conflict.
When you encounter long speeches, mark the key lines of ethical debate and revisit the characters' transformations after finishing the play.
Read alongside brief materials on Schiller's life and the Sturm und Drang movement to understand the play's historical context.
If the English is difficult, consult a Chinese translation for comparison, focusing on the rhythm and emotional intensity of the dialogue.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book in English or Chinese?

According to the information, this entry is an English electronic text released by Project Gutenberg, with English as its language. If you need to read in Chinese, you may look for a Chinese translation for comparison, but this entry itself contains no Chinese translation.

Can I read it without experience in reading drama?

Yes, but adjust your expectations. The play consists mainly of dialogue and stage directions, with little narrative description. It is advisable to first understand the character relationships and act structure, then proceed act by act, without forcing yourself to finish in one sitting.

Does this edition include notes and an introduction?

The information only indicates that it is a Project Gutenberg electronic text and does not mention translator's notes or an introduction. In practice, you may need to supply your own background on Schiller's life, the Sturm und Drang context, and the play's place in literary history.

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About the author

Schiller, Friedrich, 1759-1805 Author

Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) is a major writer in German literary history, often mentioned alongside Goethe. The collection here contains 60 of his works, covering drama, narrative poetry, and writings on aesthetics, with his plays being especially influential. His representative works include The Robbers, Intrigue and Love, Wallenstein's Death, Mary Stuart, Wilhelm Tell, and The Maid of Orleans. Set mostly against historical and political backgrounds, his plays explore freedom, justice, power, and moral conflict, featuring vivid characters and a language full of passion and tension that combines Enlightenment ideals with the beauty of classical form. Public information is limited, so biographical details are not elaborated here; nevertheless, these works show him as both a representative of Germany's Sturm und Drang movement and a key founder of German classicism, exerting a lasting influence on later European drama and intellectual culture.