H. C. Robinson, Anmerkung im Monthly Repository 1832/33 (Norman 1, 51)

I was informed by my friend Knebel that he was present when Herder first directed Goethe’s attention to Reineke Fuchs. “Are you aware,” said he, “that we have an epic poem in German, as wise and as original as the Odyssey?” Goethe confessed, when the epic was named, that hearing of it only as modernised by Gottsched, he had hitherto neglected it. The book was produced. Goethe carried it away with him, and almost immediately began his work.