Wieland's Agathon stands as a prototype at the beginning of the history of the modern novel and served as a model for many subsequent works, including Goethe's "Wilhelm Meister." In this epoch novel, through a fictional engagement with the society of ancient Greece, Wieland poses crucial questions relevant to his own time. At the center is the timeless problem of how the individual can find themselves between lofty ideals and personal experience. This edition presents the "History of Agathon" in its earliest form. Wieland's additions, the prefaces, and the continuation of the novel complement this text. The path to the third, significantly revised and expanded edition is documented in detail. A comprehensive commentary explains the work's origins, sources, and impact, illuminating its many philosophical and literary aspects.