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Genius and Discovery: Five Historical Miniatures
One of two beautifully designed hardback gift editions of Stefan Zweig's breathlessly dramatic historical sketches, out in time for the holidays.
Millions of people in a nation are necessary for a single genius to arise, millions of tedious hours must pass before a truly historic shooting star of humanity appears in the sky.
Five vivid dramatizations of some of the most pivotal episodes in human history, from the Discovery of the Pacific to the composition of the Marseillaise, bringing the past to life in brilliant technicolor.
Included in this collection:
"Flight into Immortality": Vasco Núñez de Balboa's quest to be the first European to see the Pacific Ocean.
"The Resurrection of George Frederic Handel": Handel falls into depression until a poet sends him an inspirational work.
"The Genius of a Night": Captain Rouget writes La Marseillaise, the song which is to become the French national anthem.
"The Discovery of El Dorado": John Sutter founds New Helvetia in western America and attempts to keep it.
"The First Word to Cross the Ocean": Cyrus W. Field resolves to lay the first trans-Atlantic telegraph cable.
Millions of people in a nation are necessary for a single genius to arise, millions of tedious hours must pass before a truly historic shooting star of humanity appears in the sky.
Five vivid dramatizations of some of the most pivotal episodes in human history, from the Discovery of the Pacific to the composition of the Marseillaise, bringing the past to life in brilliant technicolor.
Included in this collection:
"Flight into Immortality": Vasco Núñez de Balboa's quest to be the first European to see the Pacific Ocean.
"The Resurrection of George Frederic Handel": Handel falls into depression until a poet sends him an inspirational work.
"The Genius of a Night": Captain Rouget writes La Marseillaise, the song which is to become the French national anthem.
"The Discovery of El Dorado": John Sutter founds New Helvetia in western America and attempts to keep it.
"The First Word to Cross the Ocean": Cyrus W. Field resolves to lay the first trans-Atlantic telegraph cable.
160 pages, Hardcover
Published November 3, 2016
10 people are currently reading
139 people want to read
About the author
Stefan Zweig
2,295 books10.6k followersStefan Zweig was one of the world's most famous writers during the 1920s and 1930s, especially in the U.S., South America, and Europe. He produced novels, plays, biographies, and journalist pieces. Among his most famous works are Beware of Pity, Letter from an Unknown Woman, and Mary, Queen of Scotland and the Isles. He and his second wife committed suicide in 1942.
Zweig studied in Austria, France, and Germany before settling in Salzburg in 1913. In 1934, driven into exile by the Nazis, he emigrated to England and then, in 1940, to Brazil by way of New York. Finding only growing loneliness and disillusionment in their new surroundings, he and his second wife committed suicide.
Zweig's interest in psychology and the teachings of Sigmund Freud led to his most characteristic work, the subtle portrayal of character. Zweig's essays include studies of Honoré de Balzac, Charles Dickens, and Fyodor Dostoevsky (Drei Meister, 1920; Three Masters) and of Friedrich Hölderlin, Heinrich von Kleist, and Friedrich Nietzsche (Der Kampf mit dem Dämon, 1925; Master Builders). He achieved popularity with Sternstunden der Menschheit (1928; The Tide of Fortune), five historical portraits in miniature. He wrote full-scale, intuitive rather than objective, biographies of the French statesman Joseph Fouché (1929), Mary Stuart (1935), and others. His stories include those in Verwirrung der Gefühle (1925; Conflicts). He also wrote a psychological novel, Ungeduld des Herzens (1938; Beware of Pity), and translated works of Charles Baudelaire, Paul Verlaine, and Emile Verhaeren.
Most recently, his works provided the inspiration for 2014 film The Grand Budapest Hotel.
Zweig studied in Austria, France, and Germany before settling in Salzburg in 1913. In 1934, driven into exile by the Nazis, he emigrated to England and then, in 1940, to Brazil by way of New York. Finding only growing loneliness and disillusionment in their new surroundings, he and his second wife committed suicide.
Zweig's interest in psychology and the teachings of Sigmund Freud led to his most characteristic work, the subtle portrayal of character. Zweig's essays include studies of Honoré de Balzac, Charles Dickens, and Fyodor Dostoevsky (Drei Meister, 1920; Three Masters) and of Friedrich Hölderlin, Heinrich von Kleist, and Friedrich Nietzsche (Der Kampf mit dem Dämon, 1925; Master Builders). He achieved popularity with Sternstunden der Menschheit (1928; The Tide of Fortune), five historical portraits in miniature. He wrote full-scale, intuitive rather than objective, biographies of the French statesman Joseph Fouché (1929), Mary Stuart (1935), and others. His stories include those in Verwirrung der Gefühle (1925; Conflicts). He also wrote a psychological novel, Ungeduld des Herzens (1938; Beware of Pity), and translated works of Charles Baudelaire, Paul Verlaine, and Emile Verhaeren.
Most recently, his works provided the inspiration for 2014 film The Grand Budapest Hotel.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 16, 2018
These small imagined historical essays are interesting, and rather entertaining to read. The chosen periods are undoubtedly fascinating - for instance, the composing of the 'Marseillaise', and the discovery of El Dorado in California. It goes without saying that the pieces here are incredibly well written, but I would go as far to say, in fact, that Genius and Discovery is my least favourite of Zweig's books which I have read to date. I must say that this approach did not wow me as much as his novels and short stories do.
April 10, 2018
Genius and Discovery: Five Historical Miniatures
By Stefan Zweig
A beautiful little book published by Pushkin Press in London. A great addition to the Stefan Zweig portfolio available to readers of English. Zweig’s The Chess Story remains a special favorite of mine, one which I have gifted to several friends through the years. This new book, five brief historical sketches have lived up to my anticipations.
Three of the pieces are standouts.
Flight Into Immortality relates the historical beginnings of the Spanish Conquistadors who eventually plundered their way through the Americas. This tale focuses on Vasco Nunez de Balboa who leads a breakaway expedition to the isthmus of Panama where he becomes the first European to look upon the Pacific Ocean and learns of the great Incan empire of Biru (now known as Peru). His eventual downfall is his political ineptitude, he antagonizes the King’s Governor, Pedrarias, and is eventually replaced, captured and beheaded by the next great Conquistador Pizarro, who becomes known as the conqueror of Peru. Zweig, in retelling this historical event brings a fiction writer’s talent to instill the tale with adventure and intrigue.
The Resurrection of George Frideric Handel relates the miraculous creation of what many consider one of the greatest religious musical pieces, The Messiah. Through his great will power infused with what he eventually considered a god sent spirit Handel overcomes great obstacles to create this masterpiece. Zweig, again infuses this episode with great drama and wonder.
The Discovery of El Dorado, the shortest piece in this volume, explodes off the page. In a brief but powerful manner Zweig tells the bizarre tale of Johann August Suter who leaves his native Switzerland in 1834 escaping the law where he is viewed as a thief, forger and bankrupt businessman. Once in the United States he recreates himself as a savvy investor in New York, Missouri and eventually California. This tale becomes a classic morality tale which intended or not is also a cautionary tale on the unintended consequences of capitalism.
When I read books I am often amused and pleasantly surprised when a writer reminds me of other books and writers I have appreciated. This volume reminded me of two: the Handel piece made me think of Geoff Dyer’s But Beautiful- another book that ignited stories of musical geniuses with drama and magic; and the Sutter story reminded me of Denis Johnson’s Train Dreams, another tale of the American West in the 1800’s.
I look forward to next reading another Pushkin Press release of Zweigian historical miniatures: Triumph and Disaster. I applaud Pushkin in giving us these gifts.
By Stefan Zweig
A beautiful little book published by Pushkin Press in London. A great addition to the Stefan Zweig portfolio available to readers of English. Zweig’s The Chess Story remains a special favorite of mine, one which I have gifted to several friends through the years. This new book, five brief historical sketches have lived up to my anticipations.
Three of the pieces are standouts.
Flight Into Immortality relates the historical beginnings of the Spanish Conquistadors who eventually plundered their way through the Americas. This tale focuses on Vasco Nunez de Balboa who leads a breakaway expedition to the isthmus of Panama where he becomes the first European to look upon the Pacific Ocean and learns of the great Incan empire of Biru (now known as Peru). His eventual downfall is his political ineptitude, he antagonizes the King’s Governor, Pedrarias, and is eventually replaced, captured and beheaded by the next great Conquistador Pizarro, who becomes known as the conqueror of Peru. Zweig, in retelling this historical event brings a fiction writer’s talent to instill the tale with adventure and intrigue.
The Resurrection of George Frideric Handel relates the miraculous creation of what many consider one of the greatest religious musical pieces, The Messiah. Through his great will power infused with what he eventually considered a god sent spirit Handel overcomes great obstacles to create this masterpiece. Zweig, again infuses this episode with great drama and wonder.
The Discovery of El Dorado, the shortest piece in this volume, explodes off the page. In a brief but powerful manner Zweig tells the bizarre tale of Johann August Suter who leaves his native Switzerland in 1834 escaping the law where he is viewed as a thief, forger and bankrupt businessman. Once in the United States he recreates himself as a savvy investor in New York, Missouri and eventually California. This tale becomes a classic morality tale which intended or not is also a cautionary tale on the unintended consequences of capitalism.
When I read books I am often amused and pleasantly surprised when a writer reminds me of other books and writers I have appreciated. This volume reminded me of two: the Handel piece made me think of Geoff Dyer’s But Beautiful- another book that ignited stories of musical geniuses with drama and magic; and the Sutter story reminded me of Denis Johnson’s Train Dreams, another tale of the American West in the 1800’s.
I look forward to next reading another Pushkin Press release of Zweigian historical miniatures: Triumph and Disaster. I applaud Pushkin in giving us these gifts.
August 8, 2022
See also, Triumph and Disaster: Five Historical Miniatures, by Stefan Zweig.
Reading these was inspired by two previous reads: Stefan Zweig's A Game of Chess and other stories, and Benjamin Labatut's When We Cease to Understand the World. I really enjoyed Zweig, and so wanted to read more, and his choice of non-fiction topics is intriguing, especially his biographies. With Labatut, I enjoyed the "non-fiction fiction" of his stories of scientist, wherein he presents "fiction based on real events." These works by Zweig are part short story and part essay, described by him as "historical miniatures".
Published in various collections between 1927-1940 in German, and first translated to English in 1940, there are a total of 14 miniatures in the collection called Decisive Moments in History. The two books that I read compile 10 of these under the descriptive titles, and since they originate from a previous single collection (and are each quite short), I have counted them as a single book.
In Genius and Discovery, we read about the "discovery" of the Pacific Ocean by the Spanish, the start of the California gold rush, the completion of the first (and second) trans-Atlantic telegraph, the writing of Messiah by Handel, and the composition and discovery of La Marseillaise as the French national anthem (and an important plot point in Casablanca). The best of these were the two about musicians. The intensity and passion of Handel’s composition of Messiah are moving and miraculous considering his previously poor health. Rouget was not acknowledged as the composer of the anthem until nearly 100 years later, and I doubt many even in France are aware of his contribution even today.
These were enjoyable and enlightening books, but I suspect that the translation is less accomplished than the one I read of Chess and Other Stories, or perhaps Zweig's own prose is less engaging in non-fiction than in fiction. There were few clever phrases or wry descriptions, and in a some places the story or language felt repetitive, as if either Zweig had lost his train of thought or the translator ran out of English words and so started to repeat herself. The best bit was in the last story, about Woodrow Wilson's "failure" with the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations:
"A man who makes a concession can never stop. Compromises inevitably lead to more compromises."
If he had just stuck to his principles, where would the world be now?
Overall, these essays/stories were less engaging than the fictional short stories, and did not rise to the quality of the Labatut work. I will likely (eventually) read a biography or two but will look for more of the fiction that seems to be a bit better, or at least better able to withstand translation.
Reading these was inspired by two previous reads: Stefan Zweig's A Game of Chess and other stories, and Benjamin Labatut's When We Cease to Understand the World. I really enjoyed Zweig, and so wanted to read more, and his choice of non-fiction topics is intriguing, especially his biographies. With Labatut, I enjoyed the "non-fiction fiction" of his stories of scientist, wherein he presents "fiction based on real events." These works by Zweig are part short story and part essay, described by him as "historical miniatures".
Published in various collections between 1927-1940 in German, and first translated to English in 1940, there are a total of 14 miniatures in the collection called Decisive Moments in History. The two books that I read compile 10 of these under the descriptive titles, and since they originate from a previous single collection (and are each quite short), I have counted them as a single book.
In Genius and Discovery, we read about the "discovery" of the Pacific Ocean by the Spanish, the start of the California gold rush, the completion of the first (and second) trans-Atlantic telegraph, the writing of Messiah by Handel, and the composition and discovery of La Marseillaise as the French national anthem (and an important plot point in Casablanca). The best of these were the two about musicians. The intensity and passion of Handel’s composition of Messiah are moving and miraculous considering his previously poor health. Rouget was not acknowledged as the composer of the anthem until nearly 100 years later, and I doubt many even in France are aware of his contribution even today.
These were enjoyable and enlightening books, but I suspect that the translation is less accomplished than the one I read of Chess and Other Stories, or perhaps Zweig's own prose is less engaging in non-fiction than in fiction. There were few clever phrases or wry descriptions, and in a some places the story or language felt repetitive, as if either Zweig had lost his train of thought or the translator ran out of English words and so started to repeat herself. The best bit was in the last story, about Woodrow Wilson's "failure" with the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations:
"A man who makes a concession can never stop. Compromises inevitably lead to more compromises."
If he had just stuck to his principles, where would the world be now?
Overall, these essays/stories were less engaging than the fictional short stories, and did not rise to the quality of the Labatut work. I will likely (eventually) read a biography or two but will look for more of the fiction that seems to be a bit better, or at least better able to withstand translation.
November 19, 2017
This was small uplifting and unique collection of true stores of major successes and sometimes failures. Some of the names were familiar while some of them weren't although their deeds or accomplishments were. No matter the case, the capsulized stories were a great introduction to the men. (Yes, unfortunately, all men)
Zweig also subtly points out just how much of these things we take for granted, which is true and important to remember. Who really thinks today, for example, how amazing the accomplishment of the transatlantic cable was? Before then, people had to send letters that took weeks on ships to reach Europe. Another is that just because a name is attached to something great, it doesn't necessarily mean great things for that individual. There are times that an individuals success is one for mankind instead of the actual individual and the consequences can make them forgettable at best if not downright dire at worst for that person.
I can't wait to read the other in the series of two and wish there were more. The copies are beautiful hardcovers in the old style with etched covers rather than dust jackets and would make great gifts or additions to collections like mine of examples of traditional, less commercial, bookbinding, new and old.
The only reason that I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars is that being non-fiction and short snippets at that, it isn't going to appeal to everyone, though I can think of many that would appreciate it and the short length may make it appeal to many that wouldn't normally like the genre or concept.
Zweig also subtly points out just how much of these things we take for granted, which is true and important to remember. Who really thinks today, for example, how amazing the accomplishment of the transatlantic cable was? Before then, people had to send letters that took weeks on ships to reach Europe. Another is that just because a name is attached to something great, it doesn't necessarily mean great things for that individual. There are times that an individuals success is one for mankind instead of the actual individual and the consequences can make them forgettable at best if not downright dire at worst for that person.
I can't wait to read the other in the series of two and wish there were more. The copies are beautiful hardcovers in the old style with etched covers rather than dust jackets and would make great gifts or additions to collections like mine of examples of traditional, less commercial, bookbinding, new and old.
The only reason that I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars is that being non-fiction and short snippets at that, it isn't going to appeal to everyone, though I can think of many that would appreciate it and the short length may make it appeal to many that wouldn't normally like the genre or concept.
September 22, 2017
Like Zweig's ‘Triumph and Disaster’ this short collection of essays considers five pivotal moments, although these are characterised, rather loosely, as sublime moments of revelation, namely, the discovery of the Pacific Ocean by Vasco Núñez de Balboa on 25 September 1513; Handel’s receipt of the libretto of the Messiah on 21 August 1741; Rouget de Lisle’s composition of the Marseillaise on 25 April 1792 (although it only acquired that name later); John A. Sutter’s El Dorado moment at Sutter’s Mill at Coloma in January 1848, which sparked the Californian gold rush; and Cyrus W. Field’s completion of a trans-Atlantic telegraph cable on 28 July 1858.
Zweig’s historical judgment is sometimes open to question. For example, although aware that it was actually Sutter’s employee, James W. Marshall, who first discovered the gold, Marshall is dispensed with in a single paragraph and the essay is named for and focuses almost exclusively on Sutter. Zweig is also far too fond of imagining what he can’t know (“tears suddenly broke from his eyes, and his whole body trembled in the rage of his impotence. … But he could not sleep. … He tossed from left to right and then from right to left again, becoming ever more wakeful”).
Although to modern tastes Zweig’s style can sometimes seem overblown, he writes vividly and with great verve and this collection of essays offers a very pleasant way of acquiring some eclectic historical knowledge.
Zweig’s historical judgment is sometimes open to question. For example, although aware that it was actually Sutter’s employee, James W. Marshall, who first discovered the gold, Marshall is dispensed with in a single paragraph and the essay is named for and focuses almost exclusively on Sutter. Zweig is also far too fond of imagining what he can’t know (“tears suddenly broke from his eyes, and his whole body trembled in the rage of his impotence. … But he could not sleep. … He tossed from left to right and then from right to left again, becoming ever more wakeful”).
Although to modern tastes Zweig’s style can sometimes seem overblown, he writes vividly and with great verve and this collection of essays offers a very pleasant way of acquiring some eclectic historical knowledge.
October 8, 2017
This book is short. But succinct.
I do like this book’s honest telling of what happened to these people. The first story about Vasco Núñez de Balboa's want to see the Pacific Ocean first is honest and doesn’t cast him as a hero, this book exposes the flaws of these discoverers as much as it does tell of their discovery. In contrast, the story that stood out to me was Handel discovering the libretto of the Messiah which is done with real detail and delivered with optimism that make it a joy to read.
I also think it’s honest about genius. I think genius is often considered a thing that is kept, but genius is found in moments and this is clear throughout this book. I think you can take a lot of things from this book, but I think the most important thing is that you must keep persevering to succeed at what you love. I think it would be a good read for an older child for those reasons.
Zweig is an imaginative but detailed historian, he gives these people in history a personality, the reader an underdog to root for and it makes for a great read.
I do like this book’s honest telling of what happened to these people. The first story about Vasco Núñez de Balboa's want to see the Pacific Ocean first is honest and doesn’t cast him as a hero, this book exposes the flaws of these discoverers as much as it does tell of their discovery. In contrast, the story that stood out to me was Handel discovering the libretto of the Messiah which is done with real detail and delivered with optimism that make it a joy to read.
I also think it’s honest about genius. I think genius is often considered a thing that is kept, but genius is found in moments and this is clear throughout this book. I think you can take a lot of things from this book, but I think the most important thing is that you must keep persevering to succeed at what you love. I think it would be a good read for an older child for those reasons.
Zweig is an imaginative but detailed historian, he gives these people in history a personality, the reader an underdog to root for and it makes for a great read.
September 25, 2017
Five little snippets of history narrated by a master of writing. Zweig makes these events so exciting through his word that you can't stop reading. They've all left me wanting to know more and research. I know understand why my mum has been telling me to read Zweig for years!
For this particular edition, I would have liked an historical afterwords to give more details and explain how accurate the essays were historically.
Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
For this particular edition, I would have liked an historical afterwords to give more details and explain how accurate the essays were historically.
Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 16, 2024
A humourous and romantic account of human ingenuity and adventurousness within a gorgeous hardback design.
Easily a new favourite book for me. Zweig has so much energy and urgency that the pages almost read themselves, and I found at least 5-10 lines per chapter that were remarkable.
Favourite stories: Flight into Immortality, El Dorado, and the one about the Marseilles.
I began Triumph And Disaster aoon after finishing Genius And Discovery and, so far, that's been similarly excellent. Keen to try his other work too.
Easily a new favourite book for me. Zweig has so much energy and urgency that the pages almost read themselves, and I found at least 5-10 lines per chapter that were remarkable.
Favourite stories: Flight into Immortality, El Dorado, and the one about the Marseilles.
I began Triumph And Disaster aoon after finishing Genius And Discovery and, so far, that's been similarly excellent. Keen to try his other work too.
December 31, 2023
I did enjoy these true tales of genius and discovery. They felt a little hero-worshipy for me, even though the author was pretty balanced in sharing the good and bad of his male subjects.
January 23, 2017
All five of the "historical miniatures" presented in this book are of particular intrigue, illustrating events that I would have never thought to research individually.
However, the second (The Resurrection of George Frideric Handel) and fifth (The First Word to Cross the Ocean) were by far my personal favourites.
When reading the latter, I became the onlookers of the described feat, astounded that such an idea could ever succeed. Zweig's mix of documentary storytelling and the artistic manner in which it's expressed sustained my need to reach the end and discover the fate of the "First Word".
The Resurrection of George Frideric Handel also capitalised on Zweig's two-fold writing approach. I can honestly say that this particular short story is one of the most beautiful I've ever read. To hear the dreadful plight of a genius be the driving force of his Magnum Opus was inspiring. This is partly due to the character in question, and certainly also a result of Zwieg's captivating prose.
I look forward to reading Zweig's "Triumph and Disaster".
However, the second (The Resurrection of George Frideric Handel) and fifth (The First Word to Cross the Ocean) were by far my personal favourites.
When reading the latter, I became the onlookers of the described feat, astounded that such an idea could ever succeed. Zweig's mix of documentary storytelling and the artistic manner in which it's expressed sustained my need to reach the end and discover the fate of the "First Word".
The Resurrection of George Frideric Handel also capitalised on Zweig's two-fold writing approach. I can honestly say that this particular short story is one of the most beautiful I've ever read. To hear the dreadful plight of a genius be the driving force of his Magnum Opus was inspiring. This is partly due to the character in question, and certainly also a result of Zwieg's captivating prose.
I look forward to reading Zweig's "Triumph and Disaster".
August 5, 2019
"Even to its favourites, however, fate is not always generous. The gods seldom grant mortal man more than a single immortal deed." (45)
"For a miracle or something miraculous to be perfected, the first step is always the faith of an individual in that miracle. The naive courage of someone whose mind is closed to reason may give a creative impulse where the learned hesitate to tread..." (133)
"For a miracle or something miraculous to be perfected, the first step is always the faith of an individual in that miracle. The naive courage of someone whose mind is closed to reason may give a creative impulse where the learned hesitate to tread..." (133)
December 7, 2016
A well written, illuminating, quick read. An afterword would have been useful, however, to put the miniatures in context: after a quick check I don't feel entirely confident about all Zweig's facts.
September 14, 2017
Zweig needs no introduction by me as he is one of the greatest European authors of the twentieth century. Out of his enormous volume of writing it is perhaps his historical non-fiction that is the most fascinating and erudite, making a historical moment rich in its tragedy and beauty.
This lovely slim volume at merely 159 pages covers five moments of discovery and achievement in the modern era. Some like that of Handel in his creation of the Messiah show why its inspiration to its creator was personally a moment of triumph that defines his life. Alternatively that of Vasco Núñez de Balboa who was the first European to discover the Pacific Ocean is one that reads as a morality tale. Here daring audacious cruelty lead a savage trail though central America where Balboa faces his justly deserved fate at his moment of success.
The discovering the genius of Zweig as a writer in this book is not difficult. He gives history its context and makes each moment of triumph and its tragedy as real and personal to the reader as was to those who lived it. If you want a good read, well written you can't go wrong with this book.
This lovely slim volume at merely 159 pages covers five moments of discovery and achievement in the modern era. Some like that of Handel in his creation of the Messiah show why its inspiration to its creator was personally a moment of triumph that defines his life. Alternatively that of Vasco Núñez de Balboa who was the first European to discover the Pacific Ocean is one that reads as a morality tale. Here daring audacious cruelty lead a savage trail though central America where Balboa faces his justly deserved fate at his moment of success.
The discovering the genius of Zweig as a writer in this book is not difficult. He gives history its context and makes each moment of triumph and its tragedy as real and personal to the reader as was to those who lived it. If you want a good read, well written you can't go wrong with this book.
Read
December 20, 2017I love history and I love fictionalised accounts of history, when an author takes a moment crucial, in their mind, to human history and imagines what must have gone through people's minds. Stefan Zweig promised to do exactly that Genius and Discovery so I faithfully followed him into its pages. And I wasn't disappointed. Thanks to Pushkin Press and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
There is something magical about these stories. Zweig chose five moments in history that meant something to him, during which something changed forever, in which we progressed. As the reader, not all stories will strike equally close to the heart. Some, like the first story 'Flight into Immortality' following Vasco Núñez de Balboa's journey to the Pacific combine a respect for de Balboa's dedication, as well as a blunt honesty about the costs of his dedication to the indigenous populations. I adored 'The Resurrection of George Frederic Handel', something akin to a love letter to Handel and his Messiah. It is beautifully written and made me desperate to listen to the piece again. 'The Genius of a Night' is a beautiful look at the creation of La Marseillaise, while 'The Discovery of El Dorado' and 'The First Word to Cross the Ocean' are elegies to those giants of spirit who threw their whole being into getting something done, advancing themselves or humanity. I came out of Genius and Discovery with warm feeling, a new love for how foolhardy we are as a species, and with an increased admiration for all that we have accomplished.
Zweig's writing is beautiful.Whether it is describing the beauty of South American countries, the power of Handel's Messiah, the hope gained from singing La Marseillaise, the madness behind the gold rush in California, or the seemingly insurmountable task of connecting the continents, Zweig brings a beauty and a power to it all. He clearly cares deeply about these moments and as a consequence he makes his readers care as well. No matter that these moments are decennia ago and take place in a world fundamentally different form ours, Zweig makes his reader engage with these moments and become invested in them. Anthea Bell's translation of Zweig's prose is stunning. I only have read Zweig in English, through her, but I can see why he is considered such a giant of German literature. Thanks to her, I will definitely be looking for more Zweig to read, both in German and translation.
I adored the stories in Genius and Discovery! There is something incredibly uplifting about these stories of human spirit, of, indeed, genius and discovery. They would indeed make for an excellent Christmas gift. I'd recommend this to anyone interested in short stories, as well as literary fiction.
For full review: http://universeinwords.blogspot.co.uk...
There is something magical about these stories. Zweig chose five moments in history that meant something to him, during which something changed forever, in which we progressed. As the reader, not all stories will strike equally close to the heart. Some, like the first story 'Flight into Immortality' following Vasco Núñez de Balboa's journey to the Pacific combine a respect for de Balboa's dedication, as well as a blunt honesty about the costs of his dedication to the indigenous populations. I adored 'The Resurrection of George Frederic Handel', something akin to a love letter to Handel and his Messiah. It is beautifully written and made me desperate to listen to the piece again. 'The Genius of a Night' is a beautiful look at the creation of La Marseillaise, while 'The Discovery of El Dorado' and 'The First Word to Cross the Ocean' are elegies to those giants of spirit who threw their whole being into getting something done, advancing themselves or humanity. I came out of Genius and Discovery with warm feeling, a new love for how foolhardy we are as a species, and with an increased admiration for all that we have accomplished.
Zweig's writing is beautiful.Whether it is describing the beauty of South American countries, the power of Handel's Messiah, the hope gained from singing La Marseillaise, the madness behind the gold rush in California, or the seemingly insurmountable task of connecting the continents, Zweig brings a beauty and a power to it all. He clearly cares deeply about these moments and as a consequence he makes his readers care as well. No matter that these moments are decennia ago and take place in a world fundamentally different form ours, Zweig makes his reader engage with these moments and become invested in them. Anthea Bell's translation of Zweig's prose is stunning. I only have read Zweig in English, through her, but I can see why he is considered such a giant of German literature. Thanks to her, I will definitely be looking for more Zweig to read, both in German and translation.
I adored the stories in Genius and Discovery! There is something incredibly uplifting about these stories of human spirit, of, indeed, genius and discovery. They would indeed make for an excellent Christmas gift. I'd recommend this to anyone interested in short stories, as well as literary fiction.
For full review: http://universeinwords.blogspot.co.uk...
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