Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun Wertherian sentiment.
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hernesheir commented on the word wertherism
A fashion for morbid and self-indulgent weltschmerz and melancholy provoked by Goethe's novel die Leiden des jungen Werthers (The Sorrows of Young Werther, 1774). Werther committed suicide over the hopeless love for a young married woman. The novel was a hit in Europe and Napoleon read it several times. Young men of the time affected Werther's costume of yellow breeches and blue coat. Several youthful suicides were attributed to this craze. Source: Concise Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms.
September 18, 2009
sionnach commented on the word wertherism
I think it's probably "Die Leiden des jungen Werthers". There was an excellent update - a play by an East German author (probably Ulrich Plenzdorf, but I'm too lazy to check because Friday is chillax day) that was published in the 1970s, called "Die neuen Leiden des jungen W"
September 19, 2009
chained_bear commented on the word wertherism
I keep reading this title as "The Song of the Young Butterscotch Candies."
Yep. It's Friday.
September 19, 2009
hernesheir commented on the word wertherism
I had that same thought c_b!
September 19, 2009
hernesheir commented on the word wertherism
It is "die Leiden..." - thanks sionnach. Puts a whole new spin on Leiden University's namesake.
September 19, 2009