Global Literary Scandals: conceptual considerations using the example of Goethe's The Sorrows of Young Werther

Abstract

Literary scandals form a thriving field of research, and their prerequisites and dramaturgy have been well explored by now. However, cross-border and cross-language literary scandals have been scarcely investigated so far. One reason for this is their infrequency, and over time, they have become even rarer. Goethe’s "The Sorrows of Young Werther" provides an ideal example for examination, not only because the book caused scandals in its German reception but also later in its English, French, and American receptions. Its publication during the early stages of the formation of a literary public sphere allows Dr Büttner to trace the mechanisms that later evolved to defuse the perception of literature as offensive and subsequently prevented future literary scandals. 

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