Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship
Title page of first edition | |
| Author | Johann Wolfgang von Goethe |
|---|---|
| Original title | Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre |
| Language | German |
| Genre | Philosophical novel |
| Publisher | Johann Friedrich Unger (Berlin) |
Publication date | 1795–1796 |
| Followed by | Wilhelm Meister's Journeyman Years (Wilhelm Meisters Wanderjahre) (1821–1829) |
Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship (German: Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre) is the second novel by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, published in 1795–96. A Bildungsroman, or coming-of-age story, it was published in 1795/96. It consists of eight books, the first five of which are based on the fragment Wilhelm Meister's Theatrical Mission, which remained unpublished during Goethe's lifetime. A comparison of the two texts reveals numerous verbatim similarities. The sequel, Wilhelm Meister's Journeyman Years, was published in two volumes in 1821 and 1829, respectively.