Member-only story

Stefan Zweig, Joseph Roth, and the Summer Before the Dark: A Tale of Two Viennese Writers in Exile

Jackson Hayes

·16.9k Followers· Follow

Published in Ostend: Stefan Zweig Joseph Roth And The Summer Before The Dark

4 min read

80 View Claps

16 Respond

Save

Listen

Stefan Zweig and Joseph Roth were two of the most prominent Austrian writers of the 20th century. Both men were forced to flee their homeland after the Nazis came to power in 1933. They spent the rest of their lives in exile, writing about the loss of their country and the rise of fascism.

Ostend: Stefan Zweig, Joseph Roth, and the Summer Before the Dark

by Sharon Buydens

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3825 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	146 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

Zweig was born in Vienna in 1881 into a wealthy Jewish family. He studied philosophy and literature at the University of Vienna and began writing at a young age. His early work was influenced by the Austrian literary tradition, but he soon developed his own unique style. Zweig's novels and short stories are characterized by their psychological depth, their lyrical prose, and their exploration of universal themes.

Roth was born in 1894 in Galicia, which was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. His family was poor, and Roth had to work from a young age to help support them. He began writing while he was still in school, and his early work was influenced by the German Expressionist movement. Roth's novels and short stories are characterized by their realism, their dark humor, and their exploration of social and political issues.

Zweig and Roth were very different writers, but they shared a common bond: a deep love for their native country. They both wrote about the loss of Austria after the Nazis came to power, and they both warned of the dangers of fascism. Zweig's most famous novel, The World of Yesterday, is a memoir of his life in Vienna before the war. Roth's most famous novel, Radetzky March, is a historical novel about the decline of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Zweig and Roth both died in exile. Zweig committed suicide in 1942 after learning that his wife had died in a concentration camp. Roth died of alcoholism in 1939. He was buried in Paris, but his remains were later moved to Vienna.

Zweig and Roth were two of the most important Austrian writers of the 20th century. Their work continues to be read and admired today, offering a unique insight into the tumultuous events of the 20th century.