Journey into the Past – Stefan Zweig (1976 German publication; trans. Anthea Bell, 2009) 84 pages
Although I’ve since read and blogged about The Post Office Girl, this was the first Stefan Zweig I’d read and at first I wondered why everyone rated him so highly as a writer. Then I realised what he was doing in Journey into the Past was immensely clever.
It tells the story of a love affair between a student, Ludwig, and the wife of his employer, who is not named. The story begins with them on a train in the 1920s, and with Ludwig’s thoughts travelling back into the past to remember how they first met before the First World War separated them.
At first, I thought the description of the affair overblown and naïve.
“From that first meeting he had loved this woman, but passionately as his feeling surged over him, following him even into his dreams, the crucial factor that would shake him to the core was still lacking – his conscious realisation that what, denying his true feelings, he still called admiration, respect and devotion was in fact love – a burning, unbounded, absolute and passionate love.”
At this point I was thinking Zweig perhaps wasn’t for me 😉
But as the story developed – they admit their love but it remains unconsummated, he goes abroad and then war breaks out, separating them for longer than they ever anticipated – it dawned on me that this style choice was entirely deliberate and conscious. What Zweig shows us is a world before modern technological warfare, a world that was brutally torn apart. These naïve young lovers are part of a society, a life, that was utterly destroyed.
So although we know they are reunited, it is not with the same youthful self-obsession or indulgent love that they had previously.
“‘Everything is just as it used to be, don’t you think?’ she began, determined to say something innocent and casual, although her voice was husky and shook a little. However he did not echo her friendly, conversational tone, but gritted his teeth.
‘Oh yes, everything.’ Sudden inner rage forced the words abruptly and bitterly out of his mouth. ‘Everything is as it used to be except for us, except for us!’”
Journey into the Past is not a depressing book despite portraying losses that are glimpsed and barely articulated. It is about the impact of international conflict on the lives of individuals in the smallest, most profound ways. Zweig questions whether those loses can be overcome, and I still don’t know what I think.
I feel foolish for my initial impression of this novella: I hadn’t realised I was in the hands of a master.
I haven’t read this one but I have it. The only work of Zweig’s I’ve read is Post Office Girl – read it years ago and still think about it, mainly because of the parallels to his own life – so, so sad.
LikeLike
Post Office Girl is wonderful. What happened to Zweig is absolutely tragic. Just so awful.
LikeLike
My only Zweig read to date is Chess, which I very much enjoyed. Will definitely check out this one and also Post Office Girl. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve not read Chess, but I definitely want to read more Zweig. I’ve got Beware of Pity and a collection of short stories in the TBR which I’m looking forward to. I hope you enjoy this and Post Office Girl, Liz!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love this review. A very thoughtful and considered response to the structure and style of this novella. It was turned into a film (A Promise) not so long ago, but the reviews were so poor that I couldn’t bear to go and see it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for such a lovely comment Jacqui. There’s a lot going on in this novella isn’t there, even though its so short. The Promise completely passed me by – sounds like that was a good thing!
LikeLike
Here’s Peter Bradshaw’s review. A pity as the cast list looked very promising (if you’ll excuse the pun).
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/jul/31/a-promise-review-alan-rickman-rebecca-hall
LikeLiked by 1 person
‘Agonising’ – oh dear! As you say, the cast are great, but that review is lacerating!
LikeLike
Excruciating isn’t it – and pretty representative of all the reviews I’ve seen. 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
This sounds such a powerful piece of writing. I haven’t yet read any Zweig but I’ve been meaning to since reviewing Summer Before the Dark about his time spent in Ostend in the summer of 1914. There’s a plaque to him on the outskirts of Bath which I pass regularly – he spent a few months in a house not far from where I live in 1939.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is immensely powerful, and it snuck up on me!
I’ve not read Summer Before Dark, I’ll take a look at it. As Kate says, knowing about his life adds an extra, very sad dimension to the experience of reading him. I had no idea he’d been to Bath!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think it was a very brief stay but the person who owned the house clearly wanted to commemorate it. The other surprisng visitor was Haile Salassie who spent five years here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can understand wanting to commemorate it. Haile Salassie! I’ve been to Bath many times and never picked that up. That is really surprising!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Isn’t it! I lived here for a year or so before I found out. Jane Austen is the face the tourist office likes to push even though she disliked coming here. They don’t mention that!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Spot on Madame B – I was exactly the same at first. It was only after reading a few of his works that I realised just how good a writer Zweig was. I think half the problem is that he makes it look so easy… Chess is magnificent, but then all of his short works are – I really must get onto his longer works though. And I second recommendation of Summer Before The Dark – great book! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s interesting that you had a similar experience- I think you’re right, it’s because he makes it seem so easy! I’ll definitely add Chess and Summer Before The Dark to the list 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hmm… this one goes onto the possible list, I think. I’ve been intrigued by various reviews of his books so this might be a toe-dipper…
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s the advantage of novellas I think, they’re a good way to try out an author without trying to consume some massive tome of theirs!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This looks so good! Alas I must refrain from buying any more books at the moment as I’m hanging until payday, but I do have a couple of Zweig’s novels knocking around so I can always dip my toe in the water with those first.
LikeLiked by 1 person
He’s great Sarah, I’m sure whatever you try will be rewarding. It’s always so frustrating when money gets in the way of book acquisition (a major contributing factor to my year long ban!)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Novella a Day in May #31 | madame bibi lophile recommends