"The 1999 celebrations of Goethe's two hundred and fiftieth birthday and the city's designation as Culture City of Europe give rise to this comprehensive look at the myth of Goethe's Weimar and the ways it has been packaged. Some of the most prominent North American scholars delved into archives and forgotten texts to reveal a troubled locus of culture, commodification, and ideological projection in which Goethe still remains the central figure but is no longer in control. The contributors have uniformly retooled their perspective on Weimar to take into account the pressing concerns of class, gender, and sexuality. As a result, readers will continue to appreciate Weimar culture circa 1800 as a splendidly dynamic place, rich with social, political, and artistic energy, and still revolving around Goethe. At the same time, however, they will be made aware of the class and gender inequities that were a condition for Weimar's flourishing high and hybrid culture."--BOOK JACKET.