The Sorrows of Young Werther

"The Sorrows of young Werther is a loosely autobiographical novel first published in 1774. It was Goethe's first major success. The majority of the novel is presented as a collection of letters written by Werther, a young artist of a highly sensitive and passional temperment, and sent to his friend Wilhelm. Werther gives a very intimate account of his stay in the fictional village of Walheim where he meets and falls in love with Lotte, a beautiful girl who is taking care of her siblings following the death of their mother. Lotte is engaged to a man named Albert. Despite the pain it causes Werther he cultivates a friendship with both of them. Each day serves as a torturing reminder that Lotte will never be able to requite his love"--Page 4 of cover.