Fragments of a Great Confession The third of five programmes celebrating the 250th anniversary of the birth of Goethe.
3: The Flight to Italy
In 1786 Goethe left Weimar hurriedly for an extended visit to Italy. During this period he kept a diary of his travels "in the land where the lemon trees bloom". Professor Jim Reed has recently published a new edition of the Italian diaries. Peter Eyre reads extracts, with a commentary by Dr Reed.