Der Waldbruder, ein Pendant zu Werthers Leiden

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Lenz, Jakob Michael Reinhold, 1751-1792

Language:

German

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"Der Waldbruder, ein Pendant zu Werthers Leiden" by Jakob Michael Reinhold Lenz is a novel written in the late 18th century, during the German Sturm und Drang period. This work is often regarded as a homage to Goethe's "The Sorrows of Young Werther," exploring themes of unrequited love, individualism, and the conflict between romantic ideals and societal norms. The narrative revolves around the protagonist, Herz, who retreats to the countryside to escape societal pressures and grapples with his deep emotions for a woman named Gräfin Stella. The story unfolds through a series of letters, revealing Herz's introspective thoughts as he isolates himself in a rural setting, enjoying nature while simultaneously yearning for Stella's affection. Despite his attempts to detach from societal expectations, he becomes entangled in a web of romantic illusions and misinterpretations. As the tensions between his feelings and reality mount, Herz's mental state deteriorates, leading him to confront the harsh truths of love, identity, and the nature of happiness. Ultimately, Lenz provides a poignant examination of the struggles of a sensitive soul in a world that often rejects vulnerability and authentic emotion. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Credits:

Thanks are given to Delphine Lettau for finding a huge collection of ancient German books in London

Notes:

Reading ease score: 72.2 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.

Wikipedia page about this book: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Der_Waldbruder

Release date is 2004-11-01