The Sorrows of Young Werther and Selected Writings (Signet classics) (Paperback)

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (Author), Catherine Hutter (Translator), Hermann J. Weigand (Foreword) "I can't tell you how glad I am to have got away..." (more)
Key Phrases: composite king, man with the lamp, bronze king, Beautiful Lily, Christmas Eve, The Vicar of Wakefield (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Nature has endowed [Goethe] more generously than anyone since Shakespeare. -- Friedrich Schiller --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Description
This classic selection of writings by Goethe reflects the author's philosophy of love and death. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Signet Classics (August 1, 1962)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451523032
• ISBN-13: 978-0451523037
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #944,018 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful translation and a wonderful story, August 12, 1999

By A Customer

I am certain that Goethe should be read in German to fully appreciate his work. Catherine Hutter to me is the best translation of 3 translations I have read. Werther is a most wonderful book full of introspection and reflections of life. Napoleon read it 40 times! and was his chosen book to take when he visited Egypt. Thomas Mann read it over 10 times and I have read it five times already. After reading Werther, the reader must read Goethe's Reflections on Werther ( in the same book) to really understand the reason why he wrote this book. This is one of my favorites. Do not forget the Divan, Faust and mostly his biography by Emil Ludwig . . . . his poetry is the best!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Applause for the greatest/most profound work of modern lit., July 2, 1999

By A Customer

Werther is *arguably* the greatest literary work of the modern world. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe--world-renowned German classicist and author of Faust, Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship, and many more--has created a BEAUTIFULY worded story which displays his unique views on love, death, etc. As German author Thomas Mann said, "...The nerve-shattering sensitivity of this little book [TSOYW] provoked a storm of applause which broke all bounds and fairly intoxicated the world..." Though the genius of Goethe is praised throughout the world, he is rarely taught in the United States because his work--which is, even at it's dryest, poetic--translates poorly into English. Do not miss the opportunity to read this. If I were to be locked away forever with just one book, I would choose The Sorrows of Young Werther.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Young man trying to find his place in the world, August 8, 2000

By	Manuel Haas (near Munich, Germany) - See all my reviews

Somebody may have told you this is a story about some late 18th century guy who is unhappily in love with a girl and ends up killing himself. That somebody might add that Napoleon disliked this unhappy ending, and that the book so impressed its young readership that people did not only start to dress like Werther but even killed themselves.

The fairly slim novel consists of letters written by Young Werther to his friend Wilhelm. The book is not just a love story, however, for there are quite a number of other things which make his life difficult. Werther is supposed to start a career, but the sensitive young man finds it impossible to play his part in the soulless machinations of his bosses. Maybe his love for Lotte, who is married to another man, becomes so important to him, because she stands for the simple, authentic life he wants to lead.

This book triggered off the Romantic movement all over Europe and seems to have been the "Generation X" of its time.