The edition of the letters of W. v. Humboldt renders an incomparable portrait of his times. The large numbers of prominent figures that were correspondents of this statesman, educational reformer, and linguistic researcher; the diversity of themes addressed; and the literary quality of the letters make his correspondence one of the most important letter collections of the epoch. Vol. 1 includes letters from the period of his youth and courtship.

Philip Mattson, Heidelberg.