Welcome to Litsy!

I don't know if it's the writing, or Anthea Bell's translation, or just because it was the right book at the right time, but I raced through this autobiography, despite its heavy subject matter. It reconciled me with Zweig too. He chose to give us almost nothing about his private life, and not much more about his work - it's all about the people he met and his analysis of the (now-)historical events he lived through. Humane and thought-provoking.

Call me easily led: I am reading Zweig's autobiography b/c it featured heavily in an episode (S4E7) of the TV comedy series about EU institutions Parlement, with the subtext that it is transposable to today's world & political climate. Which is scary because Zweig lived through WWI and committed suicide in 1942.
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/may/04/machiavelli-in-brussels-bac...

#readingispolitical

Annakirche church Vienna

Vienna after WW2 as three characters return. I found it poignant and fascinating. I loved Adlers story the best ,the writing in his story seemed more beautiful to me.
The narrow streets, the cake shop that Kanakis sees through a broken pane and all the smells
‘The hallway was the same - and the smell - that most evocative, most nostalgic of the senses ..‘
I loved the details of life then. . Resi was an unusual character, I felt sad for her.

Mid-morning coffee. Slept in late; rare for me! #coffeeandbooks

This excellent story centres on 3 people returning to Vienna Post ww2 for a new life. Pr Adler confronts nazi suspicion in his old lab in a brilliant scene. Kanakis is a rich exile who wants to buy property + surround himself in admirers. Resi is a beautiful teenager sent to family. Compelling read.
@quietjenn @Tamra @CarolynM @sisilia @Caryl @daena @elkeOriginal @Gissy @Aimeesue @Bookbuyingaddict @julieclair @willaful @LeahBergen #persephoneclub

Finally started on train trip to Dublin. Also Kuno Adler is on his train to Vienna. Loving it so far , beautiful writing and story. #Persephoneclub

From the very start, this book told me where it was going. Even so, I was surprised when it got there. I knew nothing about life in post WWII Vienna and found this aspect of it fascinating. I enjoyed Resi‘s story, but she was such an ephemeral character I didn‘t feel a lot for her. I felt much more connected to Professor Adler & his efforts to make a new life in his old home. #PersephoneClub

This book is part author‘s memoir,intermingled with discussions & interviews with her grandmother,Helga, archival material from Nazi &Jewish organizations,family mementos,letters,files,& journals her father kept.She writes,”For…Helga, remembering has become a sport– race against oblivion”(21).The author‘s great grandparents & one son perished in a concentration camp.The other son Hans,hides in plain site with his later adopted grandfather,Pepi.⬇️