The Big Typescript TS 213 - Scholarly EnglishGerman Edition

In this review of The Big Typescript: TS 213 the focus is clear: scholars and dedicated readers of Wittgenstein will find essential primary material presented with care. This edition offers the long awaited en face EnglishGerman scholar's edition of Wittgenstein's Big Typescript, making accessible the 1933 drafts that mark his first efforts after the Tractatus. The single biggest reason to buy is the editorial apparatus that highlights corrections, additions, deletions and marginal notes so readers can trace Wittgenstein's evolving thought directly from the manuscript.

Key Features

• En face presentation: The English and German texts are shown side by side so readers can compare wording and phrasing directly without flipping between pages.
• Scholarly apparatus: Detailed indications identify corrections, additions and deletions, helping the reader follow Wittgenstein's manuscript revisions.
• Historic content: Includes important material from 1933 that captures Wittgenstein's first sessions of rethinking after the Tractatus, valuable for research and teaching.
• Editorial guidance: Suggestions for moves within the text and notes on alternative words provide context for interpretation and textual decisions.
• Bibliographic clarity: Presented as von Wright Catalog TS 213 material, making citation and reference straightforward for academic use.

Who It's For

The Big Typescript TS 213 is primarily for advanced students, researchers, and academics in philosophy and history of ideas who need a reliable, scholarly edition of Wittgenstein's 1933 drafts. It is also useful for translators and editors who work with primary philosophical manuscripts and require a side by side view of original language and English rendering.

General readers seeking a light introduction to Wittgenstein or a compact overview should look elsewhere; this edition assumes patience with dense philosophical prose and interest in textual variants rather than a simplified commentary.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Faithful en face layout makes textual comparison immediate and practical for close study.
• Clear editorial markings let readers see corrections and alternative phrasings at a glance.
• Contains historically significant 1933 material that fills an important gap in Wittgenstein scholarship.

Cons

• The edition is specialist in nature and may be dense for nonacademic readers who want a more accessible introduction.

Specifications

Title	The Big Typescript TS 213
Authors / Editors	Ludwig Wittgenstein; C. Grant Luckhardt; Maximilian E. Aue
Edition	En face EnglishGerman scholar's edition
Manuscript catalog	von Wright Catalog TS 213
Primary content date	1933 drafts
Includes	Corrections, additions, deletions, marginal comments and editorial notes

Our Verdict

This scholar's edition of The Big Typescript TS 213 is a strong value for philologists, philosophers and advanced students who need direct access to Wittgenstein's 1933 drafts and textual variants. Its en face EnglishGerman layout and careful editorial indications make it a useful working text for research and citation, though readers seeking an introductory guide will need supplementary secondary literature.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this edition show the original German text?
Yes, the edition presents the original German alongside an English translation in an en face layout for direct comparison.

Are editorial changes and marginal notes indicated?
Yes, the book includes detailed indications of corrections, additions, deletions, alternative words and marginal comments to track manuscript revisions.

Is this suitable for beginners in Wittgenstein studies?
Not primarily; the edition is aimed at scholars and advanced readers who want primary-source access and textual detail rather than a beginner introduction.