The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 03: Masterpieces of German Literature Translated into English. in Twenty Volumes

In Short

This volume brings together the central dramatic, historical, and poetic creations of Friedrich Schiller, translated for an English-speaking audience. It features his monumental tragic trilogy conclusion on the downfall of General Wallenstein alongside the heroic Swiss independence drama William Tell. Beyond the major plays, the anthology gathers Schiller’s philosophical poetry, his brief dramatic homage to the arts, and his historical narrative detailing the Swedish campaigns of Gustavus Adolphus during the Thirty Years' War. The collection is anchored by a biographical overview and personal correspondence with Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, offering an expansive portrait of Schiller's literary mind and his enduring quest for moral freedom.

The Story

The volume opens with Schiller’s philosophical and lyric poetry, exploring the tension between noble ideals and harsh reality. In works such as "To the Ideal," "The Diver," and "The Lay of the Bell," the verse meditates on the fleeting nature of youth, the inescapable force of moral conscience, and the divine spiritual order governing human effort.

Transitioning to historical drama, the narrative centers on The Death of Wallenstein. Set during the Thirty Years' War, the imperial generalissimo Wallenstein finds himself trapped between his own vast ambition, astrological fatalism, and the growing suspicion of the Habsburg Emperor. Seeking to preserve his command, Wallenstein negotiates with the Swedish enemy and attempts to secure the loyalty of his officers. However, his trusted friend Octavio Piccolomini secretly holds the Emperor's commission to depose him. Octavio's idealist son, Max Piccolomini, is torn between his devotion to Wallenstein and his moral allegiance to the crown, as well as his deep love for Wallenstein's daughter, Thekla. As Octavio engineers a mutiny, Max leads his regiment into a tragic, fatal battle rather than betray his principles. Deprived of his army and surrounded by assassins led by the treacherous Butler, Wallenstein retreats to Egra, where he is murdered in his quarters before imperial forces arrive to claim the city.

The focus then shifts from military tragedy to the Swiss struggle against tyranny in William Tell. Set in the alpine cantons of Uri, Schwytz, and Unterwalden, the local peasantry forms a secret confederation on the Rütli meadow to throw off the oppressive rule of the Austrian governors. The despotic Viceroy Gessler places his hat upon a pole in Altdorf, demanding that all citizens bow before it. When the master marksman William Tell refuses, Gessler forces him to shoot an apple off his young son’s head. Tell successfully splits the target, but admits he kept a second arrow reserved for Gessler’s heart had the boy been harmed. Arrested and placed on a boat during a violent storm on Lake Lucerne, Tell escapes his captors, ambushes Gessler in a narrow pass, and shoots him dead. Tell’s act triggers a general uprising, leading to the destruction of the imperial fortresses and the restoration of Swiss liberty.

In the historical prose section, Schiller chronicles the real-world horrors of the Thirty Years' War, detailing the military campaigns of King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden. The Swedish monarch marches through Germany to protect the Protestant cause, securing victories across Bavaria and the Rhine while grappling with the ravages committed by his own undisciplined mercenary troops. His tragic death at the Battle of Lützen leaves the empire in chaos. The volume concludes with private letters between Schiller and Goethe, documenting their shared literary projects, health struggles, and intense intellectual partnership up until Schiller's final months.

How It Unfolds

Idealism confronts the world In his lyric poems, Schiller reflects on the loss of youthful innocence and the struggle to align human desires with eternal truths.

Wallenstein turns toward rebellion Facing imperial dismissal, General Wallenstein hesitates before allying with Swedish forces, unaware that his trusted lieutenant Octavio Piccolomini is working to undermine his command.

The tragic breach of loyalty Max Piccolomini refuses to join Wallenstein's treason, choosing honor over love, and dies in a desperate military engagement against the Swedes.

Assassination at Egra Abandoned by his troops and betrayed by his closest allies, Wallenstein is murdered in his chambers, leaving Octavio to mourn the tragic cost of his political triumph.

Resistance gathers on the Rütli Oppressed by Austrian bailiffs, the Swiss cantons gather in secret at night to forge a solemn covenant to defend their ancestral liberties.

The ordeal of the apple Governor Gessler forces William Tell to shoot an apple from his son's head, arresting him immediately afterward when Tell reveals his intention to kill the tyrant.

Liberation of the cantons Tell escapes his captors during a violent lake tempest, assassinates Gessler in a mountain pass, and sparks a successful uprising across the land.

The King's final campaign Schiller narrates Gustavus Adolphus's swift victories through Germany, culminating in the king's fatal fall at the Battle of Lützen amid rumors of betrayal.

A meeting of great minds Through personal letters, Schiller and Goethe exchange feedback on their works, discuss theatrical rehearsals, and offer mutual encouragement through periods of severe illness.

The People

Wallenstein The commander-in-chief of the Imperial army. He wants total authority and seeks to dictate peace terms through political maneuvers and celestial signs, but his hesitation and overreliance on fatalistic beliefs lead to his downfall and assassination.

Octavio Piccolomini A high-ranking general and Wallenstein's confidant. He secretly serves the Emperor, manipulating events behind the scenes to strip Wallenstein of his military support, though his political victory costs him his son.

Max Piccolomini Octavio's noble son and a devoted soldier under Wallenstein. He desires to remain true to his moral integrity and his love for Thekla, but finds himself crushed between his loyalty to the Emperor and his devotion to his general.

William Tell A mountain huntsman and devoted father in Uri. He wishes only to live peacefully with his family, but Gessler's cruelty forces him to become the reluctant hero of the Swiss liberation movement.

Gessler The tyrannical Austrian governor of Uri and Schwyz. He seeks total submission from the Swiss peasantry through public humiliation and arbitrary cruelty, ultimately provoking his own death at Tell's hands.

Gustavus Adolphus The King of Sweden. He seeks to defend the Protestant princes of Germany and establish a lasting European peace, though he struggles to control the plunder of his soldiers before dying on the battlefield.

In Its Own Voice

"Whatever the shout of the rabble may be-- / Whatever the ranting misuse of the fool-- / Still fear not the Slave, when he breaks from his chain, / For the Man made a Freeman grows safe in his gain."

In this verse from "The Words of Belief," Schiller articulates his fundamental conviction regarding the innate dignity and eventual triumph of human freedom.

"He can no longer trust me. Then no longer / Can I retreat--so come that which must come. / Still destiny preserves its due relations, / The heart within us is its absolute / Vicegerent."

As Wallenstein prepares to commit to open rebellion, he justifies his treason as an unavoidable fate thrust upon him by his enemies' mistrust.

"What hands have built, my friend, hands can destroy. / That home of freedom God hath built for us."

Standing before the rising walls of an Austrian fortress, William Tell reminds his fellow countryman Stauffacher that tyrannical structures are inherently fragile compared to natural liberty.

What It's Really About

The collection centers on the problem of human freedom and the moral responsibilities that accompany it. Across drama, verse, and history, Schiller examines how individuals navigate the crushing weight of historical necessity, political necessity, and tyrannical authority. In Wallenstein, ambition and self-deception blind a great leader to the moral consequences of his choices, turning his quest for power into a self-made trap. In contrast, William Tell presents freedom not as an abstract political ambition, but as a righteous defense of community, family, and natural justice against arbitrary rule. Schiller argues that true freedom requires moral clarity; without an internal commitment to virtue, political action devolves into mere violence or tyranny.

Why Read It Today

This volume offers direct access to classic nineteenth-century translations of major German literature, featuring Samuel Taylor Coleridge's famous rendering of Wallenstein. Readers interested in dramatic poetry, European history, and the origins of Romantic idealism will find a rich collection of thought-provoking material. Schiller's plays remain striking for their grand theatrical scale, sharp political debates, and deeply drawn conflicts between personal conscience and public duty.

Reading this collection requires patience with high-nineteenth-century translation conventions, formal verse structures, and lengthy rhetorical speeches. The political backdrop of the Thirty Years' War involves dense historical context that may occasionally slow the narrative pace. However, the emotional conviction of the verse and the timeless debate over tyranny, freedom, and duty make the collection a rewarding experience for those fascinated by classical European drama.