Goethe und Werther: Briefe Goethe's, meistens aus seiner Jugendzeit

The volume gathers a selection of the poet’s own letters, most written during the formative years that later inspired his famous novel about Werther. In these missives the young writer reveals a vivid mix of ambition, curiosity, and tender emotions as he navigates friendships, family expectations, and his first experiences of love. Listeners hear the same voice that later articulated “truth and poetry,” now wrestling with doubts and the ordinary rhythms of student life.

Accompanying the correspondence are carefully chosen documents that explain the people, places, and events mentioned in the letters, shedding light on the cultural atmosphere of late‑18th‑century Germany. The editor’s notes connect the private reflections to the broader literary stir caused by the Werther phenomenon, helping listeners appreciate how personal experience fed his early work. This collection offers a rare, intimate portrait of a literary giant before fame, inviting anyone with an interest in history or letters to listen closely.