Goethe: The Sorrows of Young WertherThe tradition of the German novel, before the emergence of its 'classic' writers in the first half of the twentieth century (Thomas Mann, Kafka, Hesse, Musil), does not have an assured place in the canon of European literature. Not that it has wanted for spirited advocates; but, despite all efforts, it has remained firmly on the periphery. The one signal exception is Goethe's novel Die Leiden des jungen Werthers usually rendered as 'The Sorrows of Young Werther'. Werther was an extraordinary and immediate bestseller both in Germany and abroad. |
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Albert already appeared assertion becomes begins century character claim clause clear closeness comes concerned contemporary course critical culture death demands discourse discussion documentary editor emotional energy everything evidence experience expresses fact feeling felt fiction figure final force German given gives Goethe Goethe's hear heart human imagination immediately important individual inner intensity issue jungen Werthers Kestner kind language later Leiden des jungen letter literature live Lotte Lotte's means mind mode moral narrative nature novel offers opening Ossian particular passage passion perception perhaps person present psychological question readers reflecting relationship remarkable reports response second version seen sense sensibility sentence simply social society soul spirit stand story suggests suicide tells theme things thoughts true truth voice whole writes written young