In this autobiographical novel, Werther, a young trainee lawyer, meets the lively Lotte and falls head over heels in love. But Lotte is already engaged to the level-headed and conservative Albert. When Albert returns from his business trip, he and Werther become friends. A love triangle develops in which the tempestuous Werther increasingly loses himself. When Lotte and Albert marry and Werther realizes that he will never have his beloved for himself, he commits suicide in despair.

Goethe's successful novel was not only the trigger for a suicide epidemic among young men, but also one of the first merchandising successes in cultural history. A veritable Werther fever broke out among young people in particular; Werther became a cult figure whose blue tailcoat with brass buttons, yellow vest, brown top boots and round felt hat were imitated as Werther fashion. The famous Werther mug and even an eau de Werther were on sale.