A major work of German romanticism in a translation that is acknowledged as the definitive English language version. The Vintage Classics edition also includes NOVELLA, Goethe’s poetic vision of an idyllic pastoral society.
Customer Reviews
Sad and anger inducing:
This is the only work by Goethe I have yet read. While the story was very interesting and you can’t help but feel for Werther I found myself angry at him in the end. Doing what he did and then orchestrating it such that others have to live the rest of their life feeling guilty for it (I am trying not to give away too much here) is horrible. He fell in love with someone that wasn’t “available” and then he spirals downward and ultimately blames the other person for their unavailability. Like all good works of literature the story doesn’t necessarily tell you how to feel. It doesn’t raise Werther up as either a hero or a villain (though I get wafts of the former). I walked away feeling like he was a villain, but enjoyed the story nonetheless and would recommend it to anyone who likes well written literature.
Not his best …:
This is one of Goethe’s earlier works, and in comparison with his other achievements, such as Faust or Elective Affinities, this book is not as engaging or well written. Some of Werther’s lack comes from the fact that it is confessional literature, and is told by Werther–not Goethe. However, some of its shortcomings can be attributed to Goethe’s own immaturity as a writer at the time. That being said, Werther is still a brilliantly written piece of literature that is not only thought-provoking, but beautiful as well, as exquisite art often is.
Masterpiece:
A masterpiece of Teenage Angst. If you are young, read this to educate yourself at how complicated your emotions really are. Much in the way Russian novelists create their characters, Goethe does the same, but with German flair.
Review for Sorrows of a Young Werther:
For any one who does not know the extremes of emotion and death this book is excellent. I personally found it very helpful and at times depressing to read especially at the end. But its message is equally as powerful to read on a rainy day.
The Romantic hero per excellence!:
Goethe’s Werther widely reputation around the world, is due its absolute engagement with the febrile echoes of renovation and visceral way of life and think. On one hand the embodiment of the Romantic spirit had at least two well connoted protagonists: Lord Byron and Francisco Miranda, enthusiast pioneers of the flaming ashes of the recent French Revolution who understood and bet his lives under liberty’ s flag and the untamed desire of the happiness of the human being.
