The Sorrows of Werter

Front Cover
Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2009 - 88 pages
This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1804. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... joy some pleasure, some shadow of happiness upon this earth. I have lately made an acquaintance with a Miss B. a very agreeable girl; who notwithstanding the formality and stiffness of the people about her, has retained an easy and unaffected manner. The first conversation we had together equally pleased us both; and when we parted, I desired leave to pay my respects to her; which she granted in so obliging a manner, that I waited with impatience for the time to avail myself of it. She is not of this place, but lives here with an aunt. The countenance of the old virago displeased me at first sight; however i paid her great attention, and often addressed myself to her. In about half an hour I pretty nearly guessed what her niece has since acknowledged. This good aunt, who is in years, with a small fortune, and still smaller share of understanding, has no satisfaction but in the long list of her ancestors; no protection but her noble birth; this is the defence, the rampart with which she surrounds herself; and her only amusement is st nding at her windcv to look down with sovereign contempt on the ignoble heads which pass under it in the Street. This ridiculous old woman was formerly handsdme, and many a young man was the sport of her caprice; that was the gol den age. Her charms faded, she was forced to accept of an old half pay officer, and be subservient to his will; that was the age of brass. Now she is a widowj and deserted; was it not for her agreeable niece, nobody would take notice of her: this may truly be called the iron age. LETTER XLI. January 8. 1772. HAT men are these!--Form occupies their' whole souls; they can employ their time and thoughts for a whole year together, in contriving how to get nearer, by one chair only to the upper end of the ta...

About the author (2009)

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was born in Frankfurt am Main. He was greatly influenced by his mother, who encouraged his literary aspirations. After troubles at school, he was taught at home and gained an exceptionally wide education. At the age of 16, Goethe began to study law at Leipzig University from 1765 to 1768, and he also studied drawing with Adam Oeser. After a period of illness, he resumed his studies in Strasbourg from 1770 to 1771. Goethe practiced law in Frankfurt for two years and in Wetzlar for a year. He contributed to the Frankfurter Gelehrte Anzeigen from 1772 to 1773, and in 1774 he published his first novel, self-revelatory Die Leiden des Jungen Werthers. In 1775 he was welcomed by Duke Karl August into the small court of Weimar, where he worked in several governmental offices. He was a council member and member of the war commission, director of roads and services, and managed the financial affairs of the court. Goethe was released from day-to-day governmental duties to concentrate on writing, although he was still general supervisor for arts and sciences, and director of the court theatres. In the 1790s Goethe contributed to Friedrich von Schillerīs journal Die Horen, published Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship, and continued his writings on the ideals of arts and literature in his own journal, Propyläen. The first part of his masterwork, Faust, appeared in 1808, and the second part in 1832. Goethe had worked for most of his life on this drama, and was based on Christopher Marlowe's Faust. From 1791 to 1817, Goethe was the director of the court theatres. He advised Duke Carl August on mining and Jena University, which for a short time attracted the most prominent figures in German philosophy. He edited Kunst and Altertum and Zur Naturwissenschaft. Goethe died in Weimar on March 22, 1832. He and Duke Schiller are buried together, in a mausoleum in the ducal cemetery.

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