Friedrich Nietzsche prints only forty copies of…

Friedrich Nietzsche prints only forty copies of the fourth part of Zarathustra in 1885, and distributes only a fraction of these among close friends, including Helene von Druskowitz.

Nietzsche had tried and failed to obtain a lecturing post at the University of Leipzig in 1883.

It was made clear to him that, in view of the attitude towards Christianity and the concept of God expressed in Zarathustra, he had become in effect unemployable at any German University.

After severing his philosophical ties with Arthur Schopenhauer and his social ties with Richard Wagner, Nietzsche had few remaining friends.

Now, with the new style of Zarathustra, his work becomes even more alienating and the market receives it only to the degree required by politeness.

Nietzsche recognizes this and maintains his solitude, though he often complains about it.

His books remain largely unsold.