The Passion of Young Werther

First published in 1774, The Passion of Young Werther was a phenomenon, and had a profound influence on literature and culture on both sides of the Atlantic—and eventually around the globe. Werther himself became synonymous with sensibility and sensitivity, and the novel’s depiction of youthful passion generated heated debates about its effects in the context of 18th-century “Werthermania.” C.C. Wharram’s new translation provides modern readers with a faithful but contemporary version of the text that emphasizes the original’s musicality and intensity.

Because Werther resonated so strongly in both the British and American publishing worlds, this Broadview edition appends many late-eighteenth-century primary sources taken from books, journals, and newspapers in order to demonstrate the generative effects of Goethe’s novel. The introduction and historical appendices also address the debates around Werther, especially in relation to the depiction of suicide.