The Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was published in 1774. The epistolary novel was widely celebrated in its time, influencing young men's fashion, and suicides. As a source of copycat suicide, it carries the reputation of being the first case in history of this effect, came to be known as the 'Werther Effect'. Apparently myriad young romantic men like Werther were killing themselves in similar fashion, and the book was banned in several countries. Unlike Werther, Goethe did not commit suicide, even though the novel has parallels to Goethe's real life.
