The Sorrows of Young Werther is an epistolary，loosely autobiographical novel by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe，presented mostly as a collection of letters written by Werther， a young artist of a sensitive and passionate temperament， to his friend Wilhelm。 These give an intimate account of his stay in the fictional village of Wahlheim whose peasants have enchanted him with their simple ways。Werther meets Charlotte， a beautiful young girl who takes care of her siblings after the death of their mother， and falls in love with her although knowing beforehand that she is engaged。