Die Wahlverwandtschaften

The novel follows Eduard and Charlotte, a recently married couple living in a country estate, whose lives are complicated by the arrival of their friend, the Captain, and Charlotte's young niece, Ottilie.

The story delves into a love quadrangle where Eduard's affections shift to Ottilie, and Charlotte's to the Captain.

The narrative explores themes of marriage, free will, and the inevitability of human connections, using the scientific concept of 'elective affinities' from chemistry to describe the shifting relationships.

The novel raises questions about the nature of choice and destiny in human relationships and critiques the societal norms of marriage and love during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.