1000 Jahre deutsche Literatur is organized by historic periods and includes carefully chosen readings, with notes and vocabulary, beginning with writings in Old High German through Gellert, Lichtenberg, and Lessing. Also included are numerous exercises and thought provoking questions for each chapter and support materials which emphasize the cultural and historical background of each historic period.

In tandem with Waltraud Maierhofer's Deutsche Literatur im Kontext 1750-2000, these two volumes provide a modern approach to German literature in its cultural, historical and linguistic context.