Sometimes, serendipity leads to a prepared mind. As I was preparing to travel with my wife to Vienna to celebrate our anniversary, I came upon the Substack series about Zweig's book, which led me to read The World of Yesterday before beginning my travels.
Both the book and Substack have enriched our time in Vienna. When we visited the Leopold Museum, I came upon numerous references to Zweig, and an exhibit bearing his photo and this description:
"The writer Stephen Zweig was a cosmopolitan and a convinced European, but remained a lifelong representative of the spirit of the late Hapsburg empire. His extensive work is governed by a pacifist-humanistic mindset. His greatest international successes were his biographical novels."
Rick, thanks so much for this nice comment. I'm glad to have made a small contribution to your anniversary trip--and happy (belated) anniversary! I hope you enjoyed reading the Zweig. The little write-up from the Leopold plaque sums him up nicely. The Leopold has great holdings of work by Klimt and Schiele. I would be curious if there were other destinations in Vienna that you and your wife especially enjoyed. Here is a post you probably did not see from earlier this year when I was briefly in Vienna: https://frommybookshelf.substack.com/p/austrian-almanac?r=77mll. And one other on a book I was reading after I was there for a couple of days last fall: https://frommybookshelf.substack.com/p/history-mystery-destiny.
Peter, thanks for your response and referrals to your earlier posts. One of the reasons my wife, Carol, and I moved from the US to Portugal 3 years ago was so we could travel more in Europe.
This was our first trip to Vienna, and I am so glad we went. Carol Jokes that I collect churches, She collects gardens, and we both collect museums and operas. This trip was especially fruitful as we went to three operas, as well as visited most of the museums mentioned in your earlier posts.
I have two favorite (non-opera) experiences from Vienna. First, we went to the Augustinian Church last Sunda where a Haydn mass was performed in the context of an actual service. This was simply magnificent. As a Christian (Anglican/ Episcopalian), I found German l!nguage liturgy familiar (even though I studied German forty-five years ago and no longer remember much). I found it deeply moving.
My second favorite experience occurred this morning. I I tend to be an early riser, while Carol usually sleeps late. I used the occasion to visit many of the churches referenced in your posts. I am an inveterate photographer and took shots of the church interiors to share with my friends on Facebook. The serendipitous moment occurred, however, while I visited the
Franziskanerkirche, where a said mass had just begun. Although i came as a tourist, I stayed as a worshper, and better for the experience.
Rick, I've been meaning to thank you for this and to respond, but--as I think you know--I got bogged down leaving town for a few days and then having my laptop break down, and I've been playing catch-up ever since. But I enjoyed reading here about your time in Vienna. It sounds as though you had a lovely anniversary trip (and as though you and Carol complement each other nicely!). I have also been to a Mass at the Augustinerkirche, which is known for its outstanding music. It is indeed very impressive. (I don't know if you also saw the little side chapel where all of the Habsburgs' hearts are preserved in chalices..!) And your serendipitous arrival at the Franziskanerkirche also sounds wonderful.
I hope that perhaps Carol also got to see the botanical garden next to the Belvedere.
I have never been to Portugal but would love to see it sometime. So many fascinating places to visit....
Marie Therese! That’s impressive. I still feel a bit guilty for not joining you on the Zweig read-along after saying I would. My excuse is that I realised Stefan would make an excellent companion when I reach Austria late next year on my “stroll” in Seume’s footsteps.
BTW have you read 'Danube' by Claudio Magris? If not, you really should, it's right up your street.
I'll look forward to reading about your stroll through Austria when the time comes, and hopefully you will indeed find Zweig good reading on that trip.
I know of the Magris and have a copy, but I haven't had a chance to read it. Thanks for recommending it--I should definitely get to it one of these days.
I remember Rosegger from your Advent post; apart from that, I've not read any of his work. Which of his novels would you recommend as a starting point?
There is very little available in English, I'm afraid. There appear to be a few reprints of old translations on Amazon, but not much. "Jakob der Letzte" is an excellent novel (and in surprising ways a timely one, with parallels to the struggle of traditional economic forms in the face of globalization). I would also recommend "Die Schriften des Waldschulmeisters." The first 50 or so pages are incredibly romantic-schmaltzy, a little over the top. But if you get through those, it's a very nice book.
Sometimes, serendipity leads to a prepared mind. As I was preparing to travel with my wife to Vienna to celebrate our anniversary, I came upon the Substack series about Zweig's book, which led me to read The World of Yesterday before beginning my travels.
Both the book and Substack have enriched our time in Vienna. When we visited the Leopold Museum, I came upon numerous references to Zweig, and an exhibit bearing his photo and this description:
"The writer Stephen Zweig was a cosmopolitan and a convinced European, but remained a lifelong representative of the spirit of the late Hapsburg empire. His extensive work is governed by a pacifist-humanistic mindset. His greatest international successes were his biographical novels."
Thank you for your fine Substack articles.
Rick, thanks so much for this nice comment. I'm glad to have made a small contribution to your anniversary trip--and happy (belated) anniversary! I hope you enjoyed reading the Zweig. The little write-up from the Leopold plaque sums him up nicely. The Leopold has great holdings of work by Klimt and Schiele. I would be curious if there were other destinations in Vienna that you and your wife especially enjoyed. Here is a post you probably did not see from earlier this year when I was briefly in Vienna: https://frommybookshelf.substack.com/p/austrian-almanac?r=77mll. And one other on a book I was reading after I was there for a couple of days last fall: https://frommybookshelf.substack.com/p/history-mystery-destiny.
Thank you for reading and for your support!
Peter, thanks for your response and referrals to your earlier posts. One of the reasons my wife, Carol, and I moved from the US to Portugal 3 years ago was so we could travel more in Europe.
This was our first trip to Vienna, and I am so glad we went. Carol Jokes that I collect churches, She collects gardens, and we both collect museums and operas. This trip was especially fruitful as we went to three operas, as well as visited most of the museums mentioned in your earlier posts.
I have two favorite (non-opera) experiences from Vienna. First, we went to the Augustinian Church last Sunda where a Haydn mass was performed in the context of an actual service. This was simply magnificent. As a Christian (Anglican/ Episcopalian), I found German l!nguage liturgy familiar (even though I studied German forty-five years ago and no longer remember much). I found it deeply moving.
My second favorite experience occurred this morning. I I tend to be an early riser, while Carol usually sleeps late. I used the occasion to visit many of the churches referenced in your posts. I am an inveterate photographer and took shots of the church interiors to share with my friends on Facebook. The serendipitous moment occurred, however, while I visited the
Franziskanerkirche, where a said mass had just begun. Although i came as a tourist, I stayed as a worshper, and better for the experience.
Thanks again for yout excellent posts.
Rick, I've been meaning to thank you for this and to respond, but--as I think you know--I got bogged down leaving town for a few days and then having my laptop break down, and I've been playing catch-up ever since. But I enjoyed reading here about your time in Vienna. It sounds as though you had a lovely anniversary trip (and as though you and Carol complement each other nicely!). I have also been to a Mass at the Augustinerkirche, which is known for its outstanding music. It is indeed very impressive. (I don't know if you also saw the little side chapel where all of the Habsburgs' hearts are preserved in chalices..!) And your serendipitous arrival at the Franziskanerkirche also sounds wonderful.
I hope that perhaps Carol also got to see the botanical garden next to the Belvedere.
I have never been to Portugal but would love to see it sometime. So many fascinating places to visit....
Thanks for reading!
Marie Therese! That’s impressive. I still feel a bit guilty for not joining you on the Zweig read-along after saying I would. My excuse is that I realised Stefan would make an excellent companion when I reach Austria late next year on my “stroll” in Seume’s footsteps.
BTW have you read 'Danube' by Claudio Magris? If not, you really should, it's right up your street.
You're forgiven, Martin. : )
I'll look forward to reading about your stroll through Austria when the time comes, and hopefully you will indeed find Zweig good reading on that trip.
I know of the Magris and have a copy, but I haven't had a chance to read it. Thanks for recommending it--I should definitely get to it one of these days.
It's a must read, really!
I remember Rosegger from your Advent post; apart from that, I've not read any of his work. Which of his novels would you recommend as a starting point?
There is very little available in English, I'm afraid. There appear to be a few reprints of old translations on Amazon, but not much. "Jakob der Letzte" is an excellent novel (and in surprising ways a timely one, with parallels to the struggle of traditional economic forms in the face of globalization). I would also recommend "Die Schriften des Waldschulmeisters." The first 50 or so pages are incredibly romantic-schmaltzy, a little over the top. But if you get through those, it's a very nice book.
I found both books on HathiTrust. Vielen Dank, Peter!
Jakob der Letzte (Wien: A. Hartleben, 1895):
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89094601747&seq=11
Die Schriften des Waldschulmeisters (Wien: A. Hartleben, 1886):
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89007036916&seq=7
I didn't even know about HathiTrust, Andrew. Thanks.
If you read either of them, I'd love to hear your reaction.