Johann Wolfgang Goethe was born into a wealthy family in Frankfurt in 1749. He received an excellent education in languages, sciences, and the arts. Goethe studied law in Leipzig and Strasbourg but spent more time with friends and writing. In 1774, after a failed romance, Goethe channeled his disappointment into his novel "The Sorrows of Young Werther," which became a bestseller. In 1775, Goethe was invited to Weimar where he served in various government roles for Duke Carl August for 33 years, though he also pursued scientific and literary interests. In the mid-1780s, feeling frustrated, Goethe took an incognito trip to Italy to travel and