Stefan Zweig

[Val]

Nigeyb wrote: : "I wouldn't reread Beware of Pity, but I can remember it well enough to take part in a discussion - and there's plenty to discuss too. It's a fine novel."
I would skim through it to remind myself of any details I might have forgotten.

[Susan]

If too many of us have read it, we should really pick something new. There is plenty to choose from.

[Val]

I think there are three people who have not read it and would like to, two or three more who have not read it but not expressed a preference, and three people who have read it and are prepared to join in the discussion. The last three have also read all or most of the other options.

[Susan]

OK, fair enough, Val. I am happy whatever we pick. Beware of Pity, then? Is that a consensus?

[Nigeyb]

Val and RC are keener on Beware of Pity - you, Susan, don't really mind. Judy and I can contribute comments from our existing knowledge. Jan and Marcus haven't expressed a preference. So, I conclude, we should choose Beware of Pity.

However, if anyone has a different perspective, then please let us all know.

[Val]

Err, no, my vote was for either The World of Yesterday or the novellas as a second choice, but I will go along with a majority verdict.

[Susan]

I adored, The World of Yesterday, Val. I suspect that one Stefan Zweig will lead to more. Should you wish to re-read The World of Yesterday, Val, I will happily read along too. Perhaps we can see how much interest there is in Beware of City and then we can read on?

Roman Clodia has also suggested a mammoth buddy read of a Virginia Woolf biography, over on the Buddy Read threads, so it is going to be a busy reading year in 2018!

[Nigeyb]

Sorry Val.


Perhaps a quick poll is the best way to decide?

What do others think?

[Susan]

As I said, I don't mind. Most people seem to side with either The World of Yesterday, the Novellas or Beware of Pity. We could narrow it down to those and do a mini vote?

[Nigeyb]

I've created a poll....


https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...

...I added in The Post-Office Girl as well. If there's any other titles people want to include then post here and I will amend the poll. It's only open until next weekend.

[Nigeyb]

Coincidently, I just read this by Antonia Fraser in the New Statesman on her favourite books of 2017....


Hilary Spurling’s Anthony Powell: Dancing to the Music of Time (Hamish Hamilton) is a remarkable match between subject and biographer. (Spurling knew Powell over many years, an advantage she uses with admirable delicacy.) The result is an exciting story, from its unhappy beginnings to its triumphant ending with Powell as a leading 20th-century novelist. You can’t read this without your fingers itching to get at his Dance novels, whether for the first or the 15th time.

The Collected Novellas of Stefan Zweig (Pushkin Press), which I had never read despite a long and ardent admiration of Zweig, includes Burning Secret, about a boy and childish passion, which wrings the heart.

[Susan]

Thanks, Nigeyb. I like the sound of all of them, so it is a win-win situation, I think.

[Nigeyb]

I agree Susan. I suspect all Zweig's work is worthwhile and interesting.

[Marcus]

I already cast my modest vote:)

[Nigeyb]

Thanks Marcus. We may yet find it all inconclusive....


Which Stefan Zweig book would you like to read for a buddy read in March 2018?

Beware of Pity 1 vote, 33.3%
The World of Yesterday 1 vote, 33.3%
The Collected Novellas of Stefan Zweig 1 vote, 33.3%
The Post-Office Girl 0 votes, 0.0%

[Hugh]

I am not voting because I can't be certain I will participate in the discussion (and I know too little about any of Zweig's work)

[Emma]

Susan wrote: "Messages from a Lost World: Europe on the Brink

A collection of essays and speeches by Stefan Zweig from the 19..."

I read that too, Susan, and it was pretty bleak at times. Is the fiction equally so?

[Susan]

I haven't actually read any of his fiction, Emma. I loved the non fiction I have read, but he was living in pretty bleak times to be fair.

[Emma]

Susan wrote: "I haven't actually read any of his fiction, Emma. I loved the non fiction I have read, but he was living in pretty bleak times to be fair."

Exactly right. Since he committed suicide, he at least had the courage of his convictions regards rejecting living without freedom. It'll be interesting then for us to see how much these experiences and philosophies affect his fictional writing.

[Nigeyb]

The Collected Novellas of Stefan Zweig will be our buddy read in March 2018 having won our mini-poll of the last few days to determine a selection...

The Collected Novellas of Stefan Zweig 4 votes, 44.4%
Beware of Pity 3 votes, 33.3%
The Post-Office Girl 2 votes, 22.2%
The World of Yesterday 0 votes, 0.0%

The Collected Novellas of Stefan Zweig includes Burning Secret, Chess Story, Fear, Confusion, and Journey into the Past

A casual introduction, a challenge to a simple game of chess, a lovers' reunion, a meaningless infidelity: from such small seeds Zweig brings forth five startlingly tense tales-meditations on the fragility of love, the limits of obsession, the combustibility of secrets and betrayal.

An eminently manageable 384 pages

Antonia Fraser in the New Statesman on her favourite books of 2017....

The Collected Novellas of Stefan Zweig (Pushkin Press), which I had never read despite a long and ardent admiration of Zweig, includes Burning Secret, about a boy and childish passion, which wrings the heart.

[Susan]

Looking forward to reading more Stefan Zweig, thanks, Nigeyb.

[Marcus]

Let’s do it!

[Susan]

https://us4.campaign-archive.com/?u=f...

Pushkin Press are offering 20% off Stefan Zweig's books today, in honour of his birthday.

[Nigeyb]

Happy birthday Stefan Zweig

[Judy]

There are a lot of gorgeous Zweig books from Pushkin Press at that link - looks to me as if they might be having a few problems with placing orders at the moment, but certainly some very tempting books, including a few I hadn't previously heard of. Thanks for the link, Susan.

[Susan]

Sorry to hear they are having problems placing orders. I received the email late afternoon and the offer should be there for 24 hours, so perhaps people can try in the morning, if they want to order anything.

[Judy]

I didn’t actually want to place an order but just to get ideas about things my family might give me if I am very lucky - but I just noticed some bits of the site weren’t working properly. Maybe it was an influx of orders! Thanks Susan. 😀

[Michael]

I've picked up my library copy of The Collected Novellas of Stefan Zweig.
I had spotted this and planned to read the 'Royal Game' aka 'A Chess Story', why the story.........well I like to play chess and have done since I was three and a half years old. The story is set an an ocean liner and I've been on several cruises and early next year setting sail from Barcelona hence I'm also about to read homage to Catalonia. The cruise calls in at Casablanca one of my all time favourite films.

[Susan]

Michael wrote: "I've picked up my library copy of The Collected Novellas of Stefan Zweig.
I had spotted this and planned to read the 'Royal Game' aka 'A Chess Story', why the story.........well I like to play che..."

Some good links there, Michael :)

[Judy]

My daughter told me that she came across a statue of Zweig in Paris - I just did a quick bit of Googling and found this page with some nice photos:

http://www.eutouring.com/images_paris...

The monument only dates from 2003 - it was put up by the French Senate in memory of his first visit to the city in 1902.

[Susan]

That's nice, Judy. He deserves a statue, for sure :)

[Nigeyb]

Lovely statue and lovely photos - thanks Judy.

[Michael]

I shall be reading The Royal Game/Chess Story this week as the library book is due back Saturday.
Don't worry no spoilers from me, but I may comment on style etc.
If I enjoy it I'll get it out of the library again, and join in on the discussion.

[Michael]

I have finished The Royal Game. I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading the rest of the Collected Novellas and joining in on the discussion. I chose to read this novella first simpy as a I play chess. Even if you have never played chess you will too will find it a wonderful piece of writing.

[Nigeyb]

Great. Looking forward to getting back to the work of Stefan Zweig

I've loved everything I've read by him

[Susan]

I have just picked up Stefan Zweig's novellas and am starting to read them. I recalled that someone had written a novel, based on Zweig's life (his time in South America?) but I can't recall the title. Can anyone help me out? I will be offline most of today, but will check in later with the hope one of you brilliant, and well read people, will know it!

[Nigeyb]

I have just tried to find out by a few online searches Susan, but to no avail. I have not heard of this novel and am also interested to find out more.

[Susan]

Thanks for looking, Nigeyb.

[Susan]

I found it! The Last Days

"He looked long and deep into her eyes. "I'll go first," he said. "You'll follow me... if that's what you want." On the 22nd February 1942 Stefan Zweig, one of the most popular authors of his generation, committed suicide with his wife Lotte. The final, desperate gesture of this great writer has fascinated ever since. Zweig was an exile, driven from his home in Austria by the Nazis. Fleeing first to London, then New York, trying always to escape both those who demonised him and those who acclaimed him, he eventually took his young bride to Brazil, where they were haunted by the life they'd been forced to abandon and by accounts of the violence in Europe.. Blending reality and fiction this novel tells the story of the great writer's final months. Laurent Seksik uncovers the man's hidden passions, his private suffering, and how he and his wife came to end their lives one peaceful February afternoon."A novel of a staggering beauty. We see into the inconsolable soul of the great humanist, become a pariah."-- Le Nouvel Observateur"A marvel, which will enchant all lovers of Zweig."-- Le Figaro;This tragedy-Racine transplanted to the twentieth century-is told with talent by Laurent Seksik. -- Livres Hebdo"Laurent Seksik recounts this tragedy with a stunning gentleness" Le PointLaurent Seksik trained as a doctor, was a radiologist in a Paris hospital and continues to practise medicine alongside his work as a writer. Before The Last Days (2010) he published Les Mauvaises Pensées (1999, translated into ten languages), La Folle Histoire (2004, awarded the Littré Prize) and several other books, including a biography of Albert Einstein. The Last Days was a bestseller in France and has been translated into ten languages. The novel has been adapted for the stage into a very successful play, and a film version is currently in production. Seksik lives and works in Paris.

[Nigeyb]

Well done Susan - and also published by Pushkin Press, so with a very (to me) Zweig-esque cover

[Judy]

I got the Zweig novellas for Christmas and am looking forward to them - also interested to hear about the novel. Great detective work, Susan.

[Nigeyb]

Some tempting Zweig deals from Pushkin Press which Susan has posted over in the Kindle offers (2020) thread...

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Had not seen this thread before. Interesting that he came up in the What Are You Reading Now thread at the same time.

[Chrissie]

I have recently completed Stefan Zweig's Chess Story. It is totally fabulous. It is my favorite by the author and I was certain it was worth five stars!

[Chrissie]

Burning Secret by Stefan Zweig is an extremely good book. I highly recommend it. It's short--a novella.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Maybe I should have given it five stars--it is that good!

[Chrissie]

Amok by Stefan Zweig is fantastic. I gave it five tars, and so of course I recommend it.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Clearly, I started by reading the wrong books by Zweig.