Werther

The German poet Goethe was 23 years old when he wrote his first novel, which he composed almost entirely of letters. The Sorrows of Young Werther spoke to readers, especially young men, in a way no book had ever done before. It inspired a crazed following and a rash of copy-cat suicides. Two centuries later readers of young Werther’s letters are writing him back — via email. Produced by Megan Metcalf and Hilke Schellmann with Sarah Lilley.