with Dr. Douglas Miller

In the pre-dawn darkness of September 3, 1786, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe—already a celebrated author in Germany—departed his homeland for Italy. He had told only a very few friends about his plans, and he traveled under a pseudonym; he would not return until a year and a half later. He wrote about this journey: “I had a second birthday, a true rebirth, beginning with the day I entered Rome.” In our discussion we will consider what the roots of this quest for a “rebirth” were, and what the Italian journey meant for the many remaining years of Goethe’s personal life and his creative contributions in literature and science.

Douglas is a retired professor of German at the University of Michigan–Flint in the United States; his research, publication, and lecturing has focused on Goethe’s accomplishments as a scientist and writer, as well as on the history and meaning of Rudolf Steiner and anthroposophy.

All welcome, no need to book, no charge. Events are not recorded and Zoom meetings are limited to 100 participants. Voluntary donations towards costs are gratefully received and can be made by cash donation on the day, transfer to a Nationwide account held for this purpose or via PayPal.

Account name: Adrian Hotten, sort code: 07-01-16 account number: 31466776.

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Zoom link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82632129836

Meeting ID: 826 3212 9836, Passcode: 755359