Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was one of the most influential figures in German literature and culture. He was a poet, novelist, playwright, scientist, statesman, and philosopher whose works have had a lasting impact. His literary oeuvre includes his novel “The Sorrows of Young Werther” and his play “Faust,” which are still widely read today. Witnessing books being translated into other languages, Goethe invented the term “weltliteratur,” which has itself been translated into “world literature,” both describing and promoting literary studies around the globe.