Elective Affinities Author:Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe, Elizabeth Mayer (Translator), Louise Bogan (Translator) Eduard and Charlotte are an aristocratic couple who live a harmonious but idle life in their estate. But the peace of their existence is thrown into chaos when two visitors -- Eduard's friend the Captain and Charlotte's passionate young ward Ottilie -- provoke unexpected attraction and forbidden love. — Taking its title from the principle... more » of elective affinities -- the theory that certain chemicals are naturally drawn to one another -- this is a penetrating study of marriage and adultery. Inspired by Goethe's own conflicting loyalties as he battled to maintain his relationship with his wife and control his feelings for a younger woman, "Elective Affinities" is one of the greatest works of the romance era: a rich exploration of love, conflict, and the inescapable force of fate.« less