Loosely based on Goethe's personal experiences, the novel is written mostly in the form of letters in which Werther recounts his unrequited love for a married woman. Its Sturm und Drang style, portraying the rebellion of youthful genius against conventional standards, makes it a perennial favorite with readers of every era.
103 Great Poems: A Dual-Language Book by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Exceptionally fine poetry by Germany's greatest literary figure, from his earliest, "An den Schlaf" ("To Sleep"), written when he was 18, to his last great poem, "Verdächtnis" ("Legacy"), written when he was 80.
Great German Poems of the Romantic Era: A Dual-Language Book by Stanley Appelbaum Over 130 poems by 23 poets, including Goethe, Schiller, Holderlin, Tieck, Heine, Nietzsche, many others. New literal English translations on facing pages. Introduction.
First German Reader: A Beginner's Dual-Language Book by Harry Steinhauer Specially chosen for their power to evoke German life and culture, these short, simple readings include poems, stories, essays, and anecdotes by Goethe, Hesse, Heine, Schiller, and others.