The Sorrows of Young WertherA Major New Translation For more than two centuries the very title of this book has evoked the sensitivity of youth, the suffering of the artist, the idea of a hero too full of love to live. When it was first published in Germany, in 1774, The Sorrows of Young Werther created a sensation. Banned and condemned but embraced—especially by the young—it has continued to captivate. Now Burton Pike’s startlingly new translation expresses as never before all the anguish, ideas, and ardor of this seminal, iconic novel. And his Introduction reveals both Goethe’s inspirations and his influence—on works ranging from Madame Bovary to Frankenstein and beyond. Here is the classic story of Werther, a young man “seeking the infinite” in an art he cannot master and a woman he cannot have—the prototype of the Romantic hero in a work that anticipated the Romantic Age. Here is a bold new look at a masterpiece that has changed lives and, like its beloved hero, will never grow old. From the Hardcover edition. |
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Albert arms asked AUGUST 21 beautiful bliss breast brother BURTON PIKE calm charming cheerful coach Colma contredanse couldn’t creature dance Daura dear friend dearest didn’t doesn’t Erath eternally everything expression eyes Farewell father feeling felt Fräulein girl glorious God’s Goethe Goethe’s hand happy hear heard heart heaven hill Homer hour husband kissed leave letter linden trees lips look Lotte’s Malchen man’s mind minuet misery Morar morning mother nature never night novel NOVEMBER 26 OCTOBER 12 OCTOBER 27 one’s Ossian passion pastor’s person present rock Salgar servant silent sitting smile sometimes song Sorrows of Young soul speak steward stood stream sweet tears tell thee things thou thought thousand told tormented town trees turned unbearable voice Wahlheim walk whole wife Wilhelm wind woman words yesterday Young Werther