Lives and Deaths of Werther

Goethe's epistolary novel The Sorrows of Young Werther, first published in 1774, has produced a global echo that rivals contemporary bestsellers. While in the German context, the book was always outshined by its famous author, patriotic writers in Italy and China saw their lives mirrored in Werther's struggle, inspiring them to rewrite Goethe's novel in revolutionary terms. Meanwhile, French Romantics embraced Werther's expressive language to explore the dark corners of their souls. The same hap