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The World of Yesterday

Written by: Stefan Zweig, Anthea Bell - translator
Narrated by: David Horovitch
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Publisher's Summary

Stefan Zweig's memoir, The World of Yesterday, recalls the golden age of prewar Europe - its seeming permanence, its promise and its devastating fall with the onset of two world wars. Zweig's passionate, evocative prose paints a stunning portrait of an era that danced brilliantly on the brink of extinction. It is an unusually humane account of Europe from the closing years of the 19th century through to World War II, seen through the eyes of one of the most famous writers of his era. Zweig's books (novels, biographies, essays) were translated into numerous languages, and he moved in the highest literary circles; he also encountered many leading political and social figures of his day.

The World of Yesterday is a remarkable, totally engrossing history. This translation by the award-winning Anthea Bell captures the spirit of Zweig's writing in arguably his most important work, completed shortly before his tragic death in 1942. It is read with sympathy and understanding by David Horovitch.

©1942 Fischer Verlag. 2011 Anthea Bell (translation) (P)2017 Ukemi Productions Ltd

What the critics say

"One of the greatest memoirs of the twentieth century." (David Hare)
"Zweig's celebration of the brotherhood of peoples reminds us that there is another way." ( The Nation)

What listeners say about The World of Yesterday

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Timeless

This is not so much an autobiography, but a portrait of Europe's several decades as seen through Stefan Zweig's eyes, from the end of the 19th century until 1942, and Zweig's dream of a peaceful and united continent. Despite being linked to a very particular era, the book is timeless in its humanism and speaks of universal problems. Zweig's language is well-flowing and concise, while Horovitch's delivery is brilliant.

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Still very relevant to our troubled time

Sweig, in his usual deep and textured style, touches on all the facets of our evolving world as it hurls itself into an abyss of conflict and hatred. Except that this time, the witchhunt is against muslims, and this on a global scale. We learned nothing from the past, so we are condemned to repeat it.

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