Arthur Schopenhauer's Die Welt als Wille und Vorstellung is one of the most important philosophical works of the nineteenth century, representing a fundamental statement of post-Kantian thought. This masterpiece is undeniably Schopenhauer's greatest contribution to philosophy.

Conceived and published before Schopenhauer turned 30, and later expanded over 25 years, the work encapsulates a lifetime of profound thinking. For seven decades, the only unabridged English translation was the Haldane-Kemp version. In 1958, E. F. J. Payne introduced a new translation that decisively replaced the older version by correcting nearly 1,000 errors and omissions found in the Haldane-Kemp translation. Payne's translation is based on the definitive 1937 German edition prepared by Dr. Arthur Hübscher.

This edition is particularly useful for students and teachers as it translates the text’s numerous quotations from various languages into English, making it an invaluable resource for understanding Schopenhauer's vision of the world as will and representation.