The Sorrows of Young Werther

Set in the Sturm und Drang period, this epistolary novel explores the intense emotions of its young protagonist, Werther, who falls hopelessly in love with a woman engaged to another man. Through his letters, the story delves into themes of unrequited love, despair, and the struggles of individuality against societal norms. Goethe's rapid writing process and the novel's immediate success catapulted him to literary fame, making it a significant influence on the Romantic movement and a staple of European literary culture.