52 pages • 1 hour read
The World of Yesterday: An Autobiography
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Book Brief
430
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
Europe • Early 20th Century
1942
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
The World of Yesterday is Stefan Zweig’s memoir, detailing his youth in Vienna during the decline of the Habsburg Empire, his early adulthood, and career amidst World War I and the onset of World War II. Zweig illustrates a generation witnessing the collapse of long-standing empires, the rise of extremist ideologies, and shifting European borders. Sensitive topics include antisemitism and suicide.
Nostalgic
Melancholic
Contemplative
Bittersweet
Emotional
Reviews & Readership
25,601 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
As an academic web editor, I have compiled and summarized multiple reviews for Stefan Zweig's The World of Yesterday. The book is highly praised for its poignant and vivid portrayal of pre-World War II Europe, capturing the cultural richness and intellectual life of the era. Critics commend Zweig's eloquent prose and emotional depth, though some mention its romanticized view may lack critical insight. In essence, it offers a nostalgic yet personal historical memoir.
Who Should Read The World of Yesterday?
Readers who would enjoy Stefan Zweig's The World of Yesterday are likely history enthusiasts and autobiographies aficionados interested in early 20th-century European culture. Fans of works like Robert Graves's Goodbye to All That or Ernest Hemingway's A Moveable Feast will appreciate Zweig's vivid recounting of a bygone era with literary finesse.
25,601 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Theodor Herzl
Theodor Herzl
An influential editor at Vienna’s Neue Freie Presse newspaper and an early supporter of Zweig's work, recognized for his significant role in the Zionist movement in Europe.
Emile Verhaeren
Emile Verhaeren
A Belgian poet whose work Zweig admired and translated, admired for his pan-European ideals, and with whom Zweig developed a strong friendship during his time in Paris.
Rainer Maria Rilke
Rainer Maria Rilke
A renowned Austrian poet and novelist who inspired Zweig's intellectual development; the two maintained a long-lasting friendship and collaboration.
Romain Rolland
Romain Rolland
A French writer and Nobel Prize recipient whose commitment to European unity and pacifist ideals resonated with Zweig, cementing a lasting friendship during the upheavals of wartime.
430
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
Europe • Early 20th Century
1942
Adult
18+ years
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