First published 1809
Aristocrats Charlotte and Eduard live a comfortable but stagnant existence. When they invite the alluring Ottilie and dashing Captain into their world, the four become entangled in a web of forbidden desires. As their connections deepen against reason and morality, their lives are drawn together with the inevitability of a chemical equation. In this captivating tale, Goethe explores the inexorable pull of the heart and the consequences of yielding to its demands.
Genres: drama, romance, literary-fiction, historical-fiction, adult-fiction, 19th-century
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, forbidden-romance
Period: 18th Century
240 pages · Paperback · Oxford University Press