Friedrich Nietzsche

Brandes, Georg, 1842-1927Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.0

Word count: 215K words
Chapters: 22

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.Friedrich Nietzsche by Georg BrandesAuthor: Brandes, Georg, 1842-1927,Language: English, Class: B: Philosophy, Psychology, Religion, Release Date: Dec 8, 2014

Editor's review

Friedrich Nietzsche is a critical study of Nietzsche published in English by the Danish literary critic Georg Brandes, made widely accessible through Project Gutenberg's free electronic edition. Brandes was among the earliest critics to introduce Nietzsche systematically to European intellectual circles; this book surveys Nietzsche's thought and writing style from a critic's perspective, combining exposition with evaluation, and serves as an entry point for understanding the history of Nietzsche's reception. For Chinese readers, the English original suits philosophy enthusiasts with some English reading ability who wish to observe the argumentative approach and intellectual concerns of early Nietzsche scholarship. It should not be read as a substitute for Nietzsche's own works but as a secondary introduction: first grasp Brandes's framework, then return to Nietzsche's texts to test his judgments. The electronic edition is easy to search for names and concepts, making it suitable for thematic reading with notes.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Philosophy readers interested in Nietzsche's thought who wish to understand its early reception history
Learners with English reading ability who want to engage with intellectual criticism
Philosophy or literature students using it as introductory secondary literature
Readers who enjoy the critical essay form and are interested in the history of ideas

Not a good fit for

Readers who want to read Nietzsche's own works directly and prefer no secondary commentary
Beginners who struggle with English and lack supporting materials
Readers expecting a systematic philosophy textbook-style exposition

Reading tips

First read Brandes's framework, then test his evaluations against Nietzsche's own works
Take notes on the core Nietzschean concepts and writing traits Brandes focuses on
Read alongside a chronology of Nietzsche's life to understand the era's context
After finishing, write a short review distinguishing expository content from critical judgments

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 Nietzsche's original work?

No. It is a critical study of Nietzsche written by Brandes, a secondary source focused on exposition and commentary. It should be treated as a reference for understanding Nietzsche's reception history, not as a substitute for Nietzsche's own writings.

Can I read this book if my English is average?

This is an English-language intellectual critique with dense syntax and concepts; intermediate or higher English reading ability is recommended. If your level is insufficient, start with a Chinese introduction or work through it alongside translated excerpts, and prepare a glossary of philosophical terms.

Do I need to read Nietzsche's original works before this book?

Not all of them, but familiarity with the basic arguments of one or two of Nietzsche's major works will make reading smoother. You can also read this book first to build a framework, then return to the originals to check Brandes's judgments in a comparative reading.

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About the author

Brandes, Georg, 1842-1927 Author

Georg Brandes (1842–1927) was a Danish literary critic and literary historian. Publicly available information on the details of his life is limited, but the works listed here are enough to show the direction of his writing. He is best known for the multi-volume Main Currents in Nineteenth Century Literature, several volumes of which are included here, dealing respectively with emigrant literature, the Romantic school, the reaction in France, naturalism in England, and Young Germany, which shows that his scope covered literary movements in several European countries. He also wrote a critical study of Shakespeare and a monograph on Nietzsche, indicating an interest in both classic authors and contemporary thought. His writing is distinguished by literary-historical narrative and intellectual analysis, and his substantial body of work has had a lasting influence on the study and dissemination of nineteenth-century European literature.