Journey Into the Past (New York Review Books Classics) Paperback – November 23, 2010

A quick note about the edition and translation: It seem Mr. Blumenau (above) refers to a slightly different edition by Pushkin Press, with another introduction.This is of some importance because André Aciman's introduction here in the NYRB edition, although enthusiastic and insightful, reveals far too much of the plot, and would have best been switched with translator Anthea Bell's afterword. First time readers are hereby cautioned. Indeed, it would be best to read the novella first, and the supplementary material after.That said, Mr. Blumenau (and others) are quite right: Zweig is an important writer of the first rank. On par with close contemporaries Arthur Schnitzler and Joseph Roth, Zweig is a product of that enormously rich and fertile time/place of Vienna in the years just before World War I. And even if `Journey Into The Past' is firmly set in the German speaking world, its vision is much broader.For the twenty or so years preceding the Great War, there was an enormous confluence (with significant parallels) in the music, painting, and literature of Vienna. So much so that its clear to even a casual observer that Egon Scheile, Arthur Schnitzler, and Gustav Mahler all arose from the same milieu, that heady time of Freud and Schoenberg, the growth of socialist movements, and the nationalist intrigues which inevitably lead to war.Zweig's posthumously published `Journey Into The Past' concerns the return of a young man to the home of a woman he loved many years before. She is older, and is now widowed. Circumstance heightened the intensity of their passion then while keeping them from consummating their relationship. Yet the memory of each other and that time has not dimmed in either.The novella concerns feelings and self-awareness (admittedly largely his), and the inevitable disparity between one's inner world and outer life: the difference between what one knows about oneself (or suspects), and what one says and does in the larger world.Zweig is a keen observer and an astute psychologist, and although there is an emotional telling in this tale, (perhaps even a dollop of `schlag') it is not overwrought and never treacley. In fact, oddly enough, it reminds me a bit of Yasunari Kawabata's story, `First Snow on Fuji', which concerns a somewhat similar reunion of two lovers.Comprised of 84 short pages in this edition, its a very quick read. And although Bell's translation is graceful and light, and the novella itself provides a sense of Zweig's sweep and power as an author, it may not be the best place for someone new to start. For that, I'd recommend `Beware of Pity', a longer and more substantial book, where Zweig's insight and mastery are on full display.

I enjoy Stephan Zweig books. I also like the nyrb editions.

Is anticipation of fulfillment more fulfilling than the imminent achievement thereof? What happens when reality cannot meet the pent up expectations of profound love? Is the substance too strong so that it is best only to view the shadows produced?

Delivered ahead of time; excellent condition.

Ludwig begins a passionate affair with the wife of his employer but is relocated shortly after by the company to work in Mexico for two years. World War One begins and those two years stretch to much longer until Ludwig forgets her and moves on, meets someone new and starts a family of his own.After the war and some more time passes, the company sends him back to Europe on business where he decides to meet his long-lost love and catch up - and that’s when he realises he’s still in love with her. As the two try to connect after years apart, will they find their love remains or has it gone forever?Stefan Zweig’s novella sounds like the plot of a mushy romance novel but it’s anything but melodramatic pulp. The strengths of Zweig’s prose lie in his ability to convincing and insightfully portray real emotion while exploring the human psyche. The doomed affair comes across as genuine, as is the complexity of two lovers’ feelings when reuniting after years apart.With the exception of the Nazi parade at the end - signalling the rise of Hitler and the lead up to World War Two - there unfortunately wasn’t much that felt memorable. While I believed the two characters and their relationship, it wasn’t enough to keep me very interested - it didn’t feel substantial enough, despite its brevity.I enjoyed his other novella, Chess, much more so I’d recommend that over this, but if you want to read a short and smart psychological romance, Journey into the Past is for you.

Just recently discovered this author, who was a favorite of my aunt's. A beautifuly written small book of tragic proportions. Its main theme is of underlying sadness, of the fact that you truly can't go home again or recover that that once was.

His usual insightful characters and story. Very touching and written so beautifully.

Loved this book!