The Sorrows of Young Werther
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Read by LibriVox Volunteers
The Sorrows of Young Werther (German, Die Leiden des jungen Werther, originally published as Die Leiden des jungen Werthers) is an epistolary and loosely autobiographical novel by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, first published in 1774. The story follows the life and sorrows of Werther after he falls desperately in love with a young woman who is married to another. A climactic scene prominently features Goethe's own German translation of a portion of James Macpherson's Ossian cycle of poems, which had originally been presented as translations of ancient works, and was later found to have been written by Macpherson. (Introduction by Wikipedia and Barry Eads) (4 hr 43 min)
Chapters
01 - Book 1, May Entries | 29:59 | Read by Rob De Lorenzo |
02 - Book 1, June Entries | 26:05 | Read by Rob De Lorenzo |
03 - Book 1, July Entries | 29:23 | Read by Rob De Lorenzo |
04 - Book 1, August Entires | 31:37 | Read by Rob De Lorenzo |
05 - Book 1, September Entries | 10:20 | Read by Barry Eads |
06 - Book 2, October - February Entries | 18:34 | Read by Barry Eads |
07 - Book 2, March - July Entries | 19:07 | Read by Barry Eads |
08 - Book 2, August - October Entries | 19:47 | Read by Barry Eads |
09 - Book 2, November - Dec. 6 | 20:00 | Read by Barry Eads |
10 - Book 2, Editor to Reader - Dec. 15 | 19:51 | Read by Barry Eads |
11 - Book 2, December 20 Part 1 | 14:53 | Read by Barry Eads |
12 - Book 2, December 20 Part 2 | 20:53 | Read by Barry Eads |
13 - Book 2, December 20 Part 3 | 22:45 | Read by Barry Eads |
Reviews
I have mixed feelings.
Wintergreen
This is my second time listening to this version so I've decided to leave a review. Now, the literature value of this book is great. It is amazingly written and I love it for that. Geothe is a wonderfully skilled author! My problems with this book are mostly personal, with Werther's character and handling of the whole situation. I think infatuation and obsession are quite stupid, and that is what he feels for Charlotte. But anyway, it's a wonderful story and I think these readers did a nice job reading it, particularly Mr. Lorenzo.
a tragic masterpiece
A. Freeman Wood
what really can be said without reading this yourself? I can easily see why this immediately initiated a cult following and such men as even Napoleon carried this on their person. to the readers wonderful job
The Obsession of a Drama Queen
Kerrigan
I know, it’s Goethe and I’m supposed to be impressed. I don’t have much of a beef with the writing except for the characters. None were really fleshed out except for our melancholy hero, who is obsessed rather than in love. He does not not mind causing the object of his affections pain, discomfort, rumors, the jealousy of her husband (our hero’s best friend), etc, etc. Over and over again. At length. He is hot-headed, selfish and concerned only with his own desires. So tragic? No.
A LibriVox Listener
a sad ending. so futile but offu futilityelytyle. if God been told "this too shall pass", he wouldn't have listened. the truth of that axiom is sadly in hindsightabd you mustsurvice to find that comfort.. Ni unique plot here but well written and narration was excellent. thank you.
Nan
Story strayed a lot in various parts. No lasting impression was made overall. Narrators are a bit monotonous and contribute to the difficulty in staying with the story
Nice Narration
Shelbie
I have to say, I didn’t enjoy the book as much as I thought I would, but the narrator did a good job at reading.
Good reading
Cuimris
A very good reading of a moving work, the emotion of which was not lost on the reader
Goethe! The Unsung Hero.
Joe Car
Such beautiful writing. Books this good makes me think that life is stuck on replay...