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A review by cody240fc
The World of Yesterday by Stefan Zweig
4.0
As Hitler's army rampaged across Europe, a demoralized Zweig put the finishing touches on this- an autobiography of sorts. In reality Zweig is more interested in comparing the zeitgeists of his three lives: pre WWI, the relative years of peace from 1923-1933, and finally the epoch of terror that began in the mid 30's. He looks back upon his youth with nostalgia; fondly remembering the days of travel, of intellectual stimulation and new experiences. His second life is largely a story of personal success as a writer, but his success feels overwhelmed with his growing unease about the political climate in his native Austria. Lastly, his third life is lived as a refugee; scattered to the winds by the threat of evil. Zweig's narration of these three lives is informative and heartbreaking.
It is also, to the surprise of absolutely nobody, composed with beautiful language. My copy is now full of post it notes marking not only those informative passages, but also those that consist of prose and images that simply amaze. I will put one down here to give an idea of what I am talking about in the hopes that it motivates you to seek this book out for yourself.
"It was a strange morning. Silently we stepped back from the radio that had projected a message into the room which would outlast centuries, a message that was destined to change our world totally and the life of every single one of us. A message which meant death for thousands of those who had silently listened to it, sorrow and unhappiness, desperation and threat for every one of us, and perhaps only after years and years a creative significance. It was war again, a war, more terrible and far-reaching than ever before on earth any war had been. Once more an epoch came to an end, once more a new epoch began. Silently we stood in the room that had suddenly become deathly quiet and avoided looking at each other. From outside came the unconcerned twitter of the birds, frivolous in their love and subject to the gentle breeze, and in golden luster the trees swayed as if their leaves, like lips, wished to touch one another tenderly. It was not for ancient Mother Nature to know the cares of her creatures."
It is also, to the surprise of absolutely nobody, composed with beautiful language. My copy is now full of post it notes marking not only those informative passages, but also those that consist of prose and images that simply amaze. I will put one down here to give an idea of what I am talking about in the hopes that it motivates you to seek this book out for yourself.
"It was a strange morning. Silently we stepped back from the radio that had projected a message into the room which would outlast centuries, a message that was destined to change our world totally and the life of every single one of us. A message which meant death for thousands of those who had silently listened to it, sorrow and unhappiness, desperation and threat for every one of us, and perhaps only after years and years a creative significance. It was war again, a war, more terrible and far-reaching than ever before on earth any war had been. Once more an epoch came to an end, once more a new epoch began. Silently we stood in the room that had suddenly become deathly quiet and avoided looking at each other. From outside came the unconcerned twitter of the birds, frivolous in their love and subject to the gentle breeze, and in golden luster the trees swayed as if their leaves, like lips, wished to touch one another tenderly. It was not for ancient Mother Nature to know the cares of her creatures."