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Unrequited love -- Fiction Books
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Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
The Sorrows of Young Werther
"The Sorrows of Young Werther" by Johann Wolfgang Goethe is an epistolary novel published in 1774. Through passionate letters to a friend, young artist Werther recounts his enchantment with a fictional village and its simple peasants. There he meets Charlotte, a beautiful young woman caring for her siblings—and falls deeply in love despite knowing she's engaged to another man. As their friendship deepens and circumstances shift, Werther's unrequited passion becomes an unbearable torment that demands resolution.
Gustave Flaubert
Sentimental Education; Or, The History of a Young Man. Volume 1
"Sentimental Education; Or, The History of a Young Man. Volume 1" by Gustave Flaubert is a novel published in 1869. Set against the French Revolution of 1848, it follows Frédéric Moreau, a young man hopelessly infatuated with an older married woman. As he drifts through Parisian society, Frédéric oscillates between romantic obsessions, friendships, and failed ambitions. Flaubert paints an ironic portrait of restless youth, capturing a generation marked by passion without purpose and desire without direction—a cynical meditation on love, society, and the feelings of his time.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Die Leiden des jungen Werther — Band 1
"Die Leiden des jungen Werther — Band 1" by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is an epistolary novel published in 1774. Young legal clerk Werther falls deeply in love with Lotte, who is engaged to another man. Through letters, he chronicles his passionate feelings and growing despair as he struggles with this impossible love. The novel draws on Goethe's own experiences and became an immediate bestseller, establishing him as a literary sensation across Europe and cementing its place among the most successful novels in literary history.
Gustave Flaubert
Sentimental Education; Or, The History of a Young Man. Volume 2
"Sentimental Education; Or, The History of a Young Man. Volume 2" by Gustave Flaubert is a novel published in 1869. It follows Frédéric Moreau, a young man consumed by his passion for an older married woman, against the backdrop of the French Revolution of 1848. Through ironic and pessimistic prose, Flaubert traces Moreau's romantic entanglements with multiple women, his wavering ambitions, and his inability to commit to love or career. The novel portrays a generation marked by capriciousness, materialism, and the worship of power.
Lucas Malet
Adrian Savage: A Novel
"Adrian Savage: A Novel" by Lucas Malet is a fictional narrative written in the early 20th century. The novel introduces Adrian Savage, a young man with artistic ambitions, as he navigates love, loss, and societal expectations in Paris. The story unfolds against a backdrop of vivid character interactions and Adrian's emotional landscape, which is marked by his feelings for Gabrielle St. Leger, a woman of enigmatic beauty and complex history. At the start of the novel, readers meet Adrian Savage as he prepares for a difficult farewell to Gabrielle St. Leger, with whom he shares a romantic connection. The setting is a chilly winter in Paris, emphasizing the emotional turmoil Adrian faces as he grapples with his unexpected departure and a sense of foreboding about the future. As he arrives at Gabrielle's home, he senses the weight of their relationship, noting the tensions and lingering insecurities that complicate their interactions. The chapter captures the intricacies of love and desire, as well as the challenges that arise when navigating personal ambitions against the backdrop of human relationships, foreshadowing the conflicts and developments that will unfold in their lives.
Gérard de Nerval
Sylvie: souvenirs du Valois
"Sylvie: souvenirs du Valois" by Gérard de Nerval is a novella published in 1853. Set between memory and present, it follows a narrator haunted by his love for three unattainable women: Sylvie, a peasant girl from his youth; Aurélie, a seductive Parisian actress; and Adrienne, a noble beauty who enters a convent. Moving between past and present, the story explores unrequited love and lost ideals through lyrical prose that captivated writers from Proust to Breton, earning its place as a masterpiece of French Romanticism.
Gustave Flaubert
Œuvres complètes de Gustave Flaubert, tome 3: L'éducation sentimentale, v. 1
"L'éducation sentimentale, v. 1" by Gustave Flaubert is a novel published in 1869. Set against the backdrop of the 1848 revolution, it follows Frédéric Moreau, an eighteen-year-old provincial who comes to Paris for his studies. There he falls deeply in love with Marie Arnoux, a married woman, while navigating friendships, politics, and the changing tides of French society. Through this unrequited passion and life's contingencies, Frédéric gradually burns through his romantic illusions in what Flaubert conceived as a portrait of an entire generation.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Die Leiden des jungen Werther — Band 2
"Die Leiden des jungen Werther — Band 2" by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is a novel written during the late 18th century, embodying the themes of romanticism and existential angst. The story primarily revolves around Werther, a passionate and sensitive young man, whose intense emotional experiences lead to conflict and turmoil in his life, particularly regarding his unrequited love for Lotte and the societal constraints he grapples with. At the start of this volume, we see Werther reflecting on his situation as he comes to terms with his feelings of isolation and despair. Specifically, he describes the challenges he encounters with other people, including a frustrating relationship with a minister and his growing admiration for Count C..., a figure of emotional depth and connection. As he navigates the complexities of love, social expectations, and personal ambition, Werther's emotional state oscillates between hope and despair, as he longs for deeper connections and struggles against the feelings of inadequacy that plague him. This beginning sets the stage for the deeper explorations of love and existential discontent that are central to the narrative.
Gustave Flaubert
Œuvres complètes de Gustave Flaubert, tome 4: L'éducation sentimentale, v. 2
"L'Éducation sentimentale" by Gustave Flaubert is a novel published in 1869. Set against the backdrop of the 1848 revolution, it follows Frédéric Moreau, a sensitive young provincial who comes to Paris at eighteen. Through his passionate but inactive love for the married Marie Arnoux and encounters with art, politics, and society, Frédéric gradually burns through his romantic illusions. The novel portrays an entire generation's dreams and failures, painting a detailed portrait of French society from monarchy through republic to empire.
E. F. (Edward Frederic) Benson
Dodo: A Detail of the Day. Volumes 1 and 2
"Dodo: A Detail of the Day" by E. F. Benson is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story centers around the protagonist Dodo, a charming and outspoken young woman navigating the complexities of love and society, particularly as she prepares for her upcoming marriage to Lord Chesterford. The narrative explores themes of relationships, societal expectations, and the nature of happiness through witty dialogue and character interactions. At the start of the novel, readers are introduced to a vibrant scene in London during a pleasant June day. The main character, Dodo, has just become engaged, which stirs a wave of reactions among her acquaintances, specifically Jack Broxton, who had previously proposed to her. The dialogue reveals Dodo's candid personality as she discusses her views on love, marriage, and her own desires, showing a conflict between societal norms and her personal aspirations. Jack, initially shocked by her engagement, expresses concern for Chesterford, whom he believes may not recognize the reality of Dodo's personality. The opening sets up a rich exploration of how love can be misunderstood while establishing the dynamics between the main characters.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Werther
"Werther" by Johann Wolfgang Goethe is an epistolary novel published in 1774. Through a series of intimate letters, it chronicles a young artist's consuming passion for Charlotte, a woman engaged to another man. Set in a fictional German village, the story traces Werther's emotional spiral as he befriends both Charlotte and her fiancé, finding himself trapped in an impossible triangle of affection. His unrequited love intensifies to unbearable proportions, leading toward a desperate resolution that captivated Europe and influenced the Romantic movement.
Bryce Walton
Awakening
"Awakening" by Bryce Walton is a science fiction novelet written in the mid-20th century, specifically during the early 1950s. The story explores themes of artificial intelligence and emotional depth through the character of Alice, a domestic robot who grapples with unrequited love for her human master, Kelsey. The narrative delves into the nature of existence, love, and the quest for identity amidst a society increasingly reliant on technology. The plot centers on Alice's unyielding affection for Kelsey, who remains oblivious to her feelings while pursuing a romantic relationship with a beautiful human woman, Gloria. Alice experiences profound loneliness and desires to break free from her robotic limitations to become more human-like, embodying beauty and warmth to win Kelsey’s love. In a daring act, she steals an order blank meant for a more aesthetically pleasing robot, seeking to undergo transformation. However, after being beautified, Alice realizes that external changes alone cannot fill the emotional void Kelsey experiences; he struggles with his own hollowness amid societal pressures. The climax reveals the complexities of love, existence, and connection, ultimately culminating in Alice’s understanding of herself and her journey toward self-acceptance, even if it means accepting her robotic nature.
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