Stefan Zweig Books In Order

Publication Order of Three Masters Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas

Publication Order of Collections

Publication Order of Plays

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

About Stefan Zweig

The Austrian writer Stefan Zweig was world renowned for his ability in crafting plays and fiction that focuses in-depth on character. Seen as one of the foremost writers within his time, he reached an enormous level of popularity, still seen as one of the most influential writers in his field to date. Working as a journalist and a biographer too, he would come to be regarded as a strong and very prominent voice during the 1920s and 1930s. This influence and high regard still remain to this day, as his legacy continues to garner attention from many readers both old and new. Over time he has also gone on to inspire countless other writers following in his footsteps, as they go on to preserve the legacy he created.

Early and Personal Life

Born in 1881 on the 28th of November, the future author to be Stefan Zweig would come to be highly regarded during the course of his lifetime. Over the duration of his legacy he would come to write a vast number of books, as he would continue to write throughout his life until his untimely death in 1942. Growing up in Austria in a Jewish family, whilst also being related to Egon Hostovsky, the influential Czech writer. Fascinated with the written word from an early age, he would come to show a passion for both reading and writing throughout much of his life. This would continue throughout his education, as he would go on to study at the University of Vienna, from which he would graduate in 1904.

Gaining a background in philosophy, he would receive a doctoral degree from the university, something which would come to shape his outlook over the course of his later career. Whilst he wasn’t religious himself, he would still identify as Jewish, holding on to his cultural heritage, as this would also come to shape much of his ideas and work. He would come to regard internationalism as a major tenet of his ideology as well, using it to shape much of his work and material too. Later, following the rise of Hitler, he would move on to live in England, Bath, followed by New York, America. He and his wife would finely land in Brazil, whereby they would tragically meet their end, but not before leaving behind a strong and illustrious legacy.

Writing Career

It would largely be during the 1920s and 1930s that Stefan Zweig would become a highly prominent writer. Seen as one of the foremost figures writing during his time, he would come to incorporate a large amount of psychological analysis into his work as well. This would be influenced and shaped through his friendship with Sigmund Freud, as it came to shape much of his outlook on life. Creating stories that would reflect psychological themes and ideas, he would quickly rise to prominence, gaining a large following worldwide. This would see him gain international status as a leading voice during his lifetime, reaching readers throughout much of the USA, South America and Europe.

Later in the 1990s Zweig would receive some posthumous acclaim in England, as his work would find an entirely new audience. During his lifetime he would also write a number of non-fiction works too, many of which have also been reprinted in following his death as well. He would also write many biographies too, along with plays as well, using his deeper understanding of character and the human psyche. This he would credit Freud for, as he would go on to thank him for his level of insight afforded to both him and his work, along with what he offered other writers. With a legacy that continues on to this very day, his work continues to receive attention from readers both old and new in equal measure.

Amok

Inspired by much of the work of Sigmund Freud, this would feature themes of obsession, in what is essentially a stand-alone novella. First published in 1922, it would come out in Austria, setting up an early entry in to the writing career of Stefan Zweig as an author of much repute. It would also allow readers an insight in to the rich mindset of Zweig, as it is a work that is still finely analyzed to this very day. The book would also feature later in the collection titled ‘Amok: Novellas of Passion’, whilst also originally being published in the newspaper ‘Neue Freie Presse’ in 1922.

Seen through the perspective of an unnamed narrator, this sees taking a trip from India to Europe in 1912 on the Oceania ocean liner. As he’s taking a walk along the deck one night, he meets a man who is scared and disturbed, but soon he begins to tell the narrator his story. Having been visited by a woman quite unlike the indigenous women he’s used to, he’s asked, as a physician, if he can provide her with a discreet abortion for money. Consumed by a sudden obsession, he refuses the money, and she leaves storming out of his practice, looking for help elsewhere. Finding help with a healer she dies in the process, but not before asking the obsessed physician, who’s followed her, if he can keep her secret. Where will this journey take him? How far will he go to protect her last dying wish? What will he do now that he’s run amok?

Beware of Pity

First released in 1939, this would come to be Stefan Zweig’s longest work of fiction produced during the course of his lifetime. Later in 1946 it would go on to be adapted for the cinema, with the director Maurice Elvey bringing it on to the big-screen. There would also be another adaptation of the work in 1979, as the novel has gone on to become one Zweig’s most enduring stories to date, inspiring directors such as Wes Anderson and ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ too.

Focusing on the character of Anton Hofmiller, he takes up the invitation of one Lajos Kekesflava, a wealthy Hungarian. She is paralyzed and the two of them soon develop a bond between them, and he offers his hand in marriage in a bid for her to take treatment. Showing a different face in public though, they all soon learn that it may otherwise be better to beware of pity.