The Sorrows of Young Werther, Elective Affinities, Novella (Goethe: The Collected Works, Vol. 11)

In contemporary America, Goethe is thought of as a poet rather than a novelist (though "The Sorrows of Young Werther" is acknowledged as hugely influential in the "cult of sentimentality" and even in what was a disturbing vogue of suicide by depressed young men in that era). "The Elective Affinities" (1809) is almost completely neglected. This is an enormous shame, since it is a brilliant and fascinating novel. The story revolves around a couple who loved each other as young people but were more or less forced into marrying someone else. Their spouses die, and they now accomplish their early love and settle into a manor house in the country. Edward now invites his old friend "The Captain," who is having difficulty making a living, to come live with them; and Charlotte brings her niece Ottilie to live with them as well. Following a metaphor from chemistry of two compounds who, when mixed, exchange component elements, Edward falls in love with Ottilie, and the Captain falls in love with Charlotte. After further complications, the story ends unhappily. Goethe is exploring the issues of passion, marital love, commitment, renunciation (or the failure to renounce), and doing so with deep feeling, deep insight, and wit and irony as well as pathos. The novel is well translated by Judith Ryan, who renders the subtleties of tone and perspective in clear and attractive English. Princeton has published an excellent 12-volume "Collected Works" of Goethe, and this volume also contains "The Sorrows of Young Werther"--another novel not to be missed! The book is well printed, with clear and legible type on good paper. Highly recommended.

I love Goethe! I first read his works in a German Literature class back in college. It's great to learn more.

Excellent copy and shipped fast. This is one of the books that I have been waiting to read. clean book.

awesome!

Great