R. D. Boylan

Nathen Haskell Dole

Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

The Sorrows of Young Werther (German: Die Leiden des jungen Werthers) is an epistolary and loosely autobiographical novel by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

The Sorrows of Young Werther

J W Von Goethe

The Sorrows of Young Werther Brand New EditionBy J.W. von Goethe Translated by R.D. Boylan Edited by Nathen Haskell Dole The Sorrows of Young Werther (German: Die Leiden des jungen Werthers) is an epistolary and loosely autobiographical novel by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, first published in 1774; a revised edition of the novel was published in 1787. Werther was an important novel of the Sturm und Drang period in German literature, and influenced the later Romantic literary movement. Finished in six weeks of intensive writing during January–March 1774, its publication instantly made the 24-year-old Goethe one of the first international literary celebrities. Of all his works, this book was the most known to the general public. Towards the end of Goethe's life, a personal visit to Weimar became crucial to any young man's tour of Europe.

J. W. von Goethe

Nathen Dole

Goethe's first major success The Sorrows of Young Werther A Collection of Letters By J.W. von Goethe Translated by R.D. Boylan Edited by Nathen Haskell Dole The majority of The Sorrows of Young Werther is presented as a collection of letters written by Werther, a young artist of highly sensitive and passionate temperament, and sent to his friend Wilhelm. In these letters, Werther gives a very intimate account of his stay in the fictional village of Wahlheim (based on the town of Garbenheim, near Wetzlar). He is enchanted by the simple ways of the peasants there. He meets Lotte, a beautiful young girl who is taking care of her siblings following the death of their mother. Despite knowing beforehand that Lotte is already engaged to a man named Albert who is 11 years her senior, Werther falls in love with her. Although this causes Werther great pain, he spends the next few months cultivating a close friendship with both of them. His pain eventually becomes so great that he is forced to leave and go to Weimar. While he is away, he makes the acquaintance of Fraulein von B. He suffers a great embarrassment when he forgetfully visits a friend and has to face the normal weekly gathering of the entire aristocratic set. He returns to Wahlheim after this, where he suffers more than he did before, partially because Lotte and Albert are now married. Every day serves as a torturous reminder that Lotte will never be able to requite his love. Out of pity for her friend and respect for her husband, Lotte comes to the decision that Werther must not visit her so frequently. He visits her one final time, and they are both overcome with emotion after Werther's recitation of a portion of "Ossian". Werther had realized even before this incident that one member of their love triangle -- Lotte, Albert or Werther himself -- had to die in order to resolve the situation. Unable to hurt anyone else or seriously consider committing murder, Werther sees no other choice but to take his own life. After composing a farewell letter to be found after his suicide, he writes to Albert asking for his two pistols, under a pretence that he is going "on a journey". Lotte receives the request with great emotion and sends the pistols. Werther then shoots himself in the head, but does not expire until 12 hours after he has shot himself. He is buried under a linden tree, a tree he talks about frequently in his letters, and the funeral is not attended by clergymen, Albert or his beloved Lotte I have carefully collected whatever I have been able to learn of the story of poor Werther, and here present it to you, knowing that you will thank me for it. To his spirit and character you cannot refuse your admiration and love: to his fate you will not deny your tears. And thou, good soul, who sufferest the same distress as he endured once, draw comfort from his sorrows; and let this little book be thy friend, if, owing to fortune or through thine own fault, thou canst not find a dearer companion.

A Collection of Letters

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Mark Diederichsen

2014 Brass Rabbit Classics edition. Werther, a young artist of highly sensitive and passionate temperament, tells the intimate account of his stay at the fictional village of Wahlheim in a series of letters written to his friend Wilhelm. In Wahlheim, Werther becomes involved in a love triangle which ends tragically.First published in 1774, The Sorrows of Young Werther was Goethe's first major success, turning him from an unknown into a celebrated author practically overnight. The popularity of the novel started the phenomenon known as Werther-Fieber (“Werther Fever”) which caused young men throughout Europe to dress in the clothing style described in the story. The cover illustration is an 1896 woodcut by Edvard Munch.

R. D. Boylan

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