The textbook is devoted to the history of German literature of the 18th century in the context of European culture and literature. Primary attention is paid to the German Enlightenment, its philosophical, aesthetic, literary searches, and its most representative figures. The material is presented from the perspective of the genre-style dynamics of German literature, not only in accordance with the chronological principle, but also with the logic of the development of the main types of literature. In a new way, taking into account the latest scientific data, the main artistic trends of the 18th century (Enlightenment classicism, Rococo, sentimentalism) and their refraction in German literature of this era are presented. Intended for students of higher education institutions studying in the specialties "Cultural Studies" and "Romanology" Germanic philology."