The Sorrows of Young Werther

By: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Narrated by: Leighton Pugh

Werther, a sensitive young artist, finds himself in Wahlheim, a quiet, attractive village in Germany where he seeks solace from the turmoils of love. It is a young spring, and he hopes that arcadian solitude will prove a genial balm to his mind. But his romantic tendency rules otherwise, and he falls in love with Charlotte - Lotte - even though he knows she is affianced to another.

In a series of letters to his friend, Wilhelm, he charts the course of his love, which rises to passion and obsession and, ultimately, tragedy.

The Sorrows of Young Werther is the iconic love story which helped to usher in the Romantic age. Partially autobiographical, von Goethe, aged just 24, wrote it in just six weeks, and when it appeared in 1774 it immediately established his reputation. Told through the protagonist's eyes, it is the gradual rise of Werther's strong feelings checked by attempts at restraint and complicated by a friendship with Lotte's husband that keeps the listener on edge - especially when read with sympathy, as here, by Leighton Pugh.

Translated by R. D. Boylan; revised by Leighton Pugh.

Public Domain (P)2016 Ukemi Productions Ltd

A fantastic book

A wonderful book that I found to be developmental and maturative for a young man coming of age such as myself. I found this book to be worthwhile and generally entertaining. I further highly recommend this book.

Excellent reading of a literary masterpiece.

I especially enjoyed the window into the troubled young man’s soul offered by the letters.

Great performance for a classical story.

The vocals in this audible are far better than the other options for this book. I would recommend people listen to this one.

A German classic and deservedly so.

A young Romantic with an all-consuming love for a woman betrothed to another man-- and the dire consequences of that relationship.
Excellent reading by Leighton Pugh.

A tragic story well told

This translation of WERTHER is close the the early 19th century translation but altered slightly to be more modern and readable.

The audio book narrator was perfect.