Description
Arriving at the family manor, the Major scarcely recognizes his tall, elegant niece as she rushes out to greet him. Surprise soon turns to satisfaction as he learns that she has confessed to being in love with him?and he a 50-year-old man! Instantly turning his attention to his appearance, he determines to transform himself into a suitable lover for a young girl. But he must also make his confession to his son, for whom his niece was originally promised. Rather conveniently, however, his son has also succumbed to love?and with an older woman. All would seem to be well?until the new-look Major meets his son’s paramour. Author of Faust and The Sorrows of Young Werther, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is regarded as the founder of modern German literature.
Read More
Arriving at the family manor, the major scarcely recognises his tall and elegant niece as she rushes to greet him. Surprise soon turns to satisfaction as he learns that she has confessed to being in love with him - and a fifty-year-old man! Instantly aware of his ageing appearance, and of the youthful looks of those around him, he determines to try every lotion and tincture, pomade and balsam to transform himself into a suitable lover for a young girl. But before he can enjoy his new-found joie de vivre, he must first make his confession to his son, for whom his niece was originally promised.So begins Goethe's wicked comedy of family obligations, misplaced affections, and the inexorable advancement of time. Originally published as part of Goethe's ambitious Wilhelm Meister's Travels, The Man of Fifty is a tale of love and of growing old gracefully.
Read Less