Die Geburt der Tragödie (The Birth of Tragedy) NIETZSCHE, Friedrich Philosophy & Religions

NIETZSCHE, Friedrich, Die Geburt der Tragödie (The Birth of Tragedy). Schmeitzner, Chemnitz, 1878. TP + [III]-IV + [1]-144, Octavo. The famous Second Edition, First Issue of Nietzsche's first book. (Schaberg 30). The publication history of Nietzsche s Birth of Tragedy is about as complicated as any. The 143-page first edition appeared in 1872, published by E.W. Fritzsch. Shortly after its release, Fritzsch printed a second edition that included Nietzsche s corrections, extending the text to 144 pages. This was completed by March of 1874, yet because of some conflicts between Nietzsche and Fritzsch (and the financial difficulties Fritzsch was experiencing), the 750 copies of this 144-page second edition were never available for sale. They sat in a warehouse for 4 years, until Schmeitzner, Nietzsche s new publisher, acquired the copies. Schmeitzner affixed his own label on top of the original publisher s information and made the books available for sale. Very few sold no more than 175. In 1886, the unsold copies of both the 143-page first edition and the 144-page second edition ended up back with the original publisher, Fritzsch, who added Nietzsche s new preface along with a new title page for the "Neue Ausgabe" edition (the definitive edition if the 144-page copy!). Thus, fewer than 175 copies in this state 144-pages with the original title page and Schmeitzner label extant. A rare find, and a must-have for any Nietzsche collection to be complete.Printing and the Mind of Man notes, "(Nietzsche's) principle work during the Wagner period, 1868-1878, was Die Geburt der Tragodie aus dem Geist der Musik, 1872. In this he adopted a tragico-pessimistic conceptions of Greek civilization, like Burckhardt but contrary to Grote. This started his career as a critic of modern civilization based on disgust with imperial Germany, Christianity, bourgeois ethics and so on." (PMM 224). In this, his first book, Nietzsche theorized that Greek tragedy was built upon a wedding of two principles that he associated with the deities Apollo and Dionysus. The Apollonian principle is the principle of order, static beauty and clear boundaries. The Dionysian principle, in contrast, is the principle of frenzy, excess and the demolition of boundaries. It is in the subtle interaction of these disparate principles that the greatness of Greek tragedy resides, and by extension, in which the creative spirit still finds its proper soil. The book ended with a long section devoted to Richard Wagner and the importance of his music. When first released, it met with only limited success. Despite Nietzsche's eventual near contempt for the book - from the perspective, naturally, of his later unequalled masterpieces of German prose - it must be considered, along with Aristotle and Hegel, among the greatest contributions to the understanding of Greek tragedy and, in fact, to the Greek way of life in general. CONDITION: Very Good in contemporary half-calf and marbled boards. Light wear. Gilt lettering. Light foxing. Former owner s name neatly inscribed to upper corner of front free endpaper. As issued with Schmeitzner's label canceling out Fritzsch's imprint. A very good copy of a very rare book.