Sharyl reviewed Beware of pity by Stefan Zweig (European classics (Evanston, Ill.))
Review of 'Beware of pity' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
Here is a novel that would make for an interesting discussion...how much responsibility does anyone have for someone else's emotions? At what point does a situation become emotional blackmail? Who is being abused? How far would you compromise your life's path for the hope of making someone else happier?
Anthony Hoffmiller, a sad war hero, tells the tale of what transpired in his youth, something that led to the soul killing guilt that enabled him to not fear death during battle, that will make him feel shame until the day he dies.
I'll admit, toward the end of this novel, some of Lt. Hoffmiller's angst began to seem tedious to me, but then--perhaps that was the intended effect. This emotional turmoil turns a young officer into an emotional, exhausted wreck--and I felt it.
Just as Hoffmiller's story is coming to a climax, Archduke Franz Ferdinand is assassinated, which precipitates the …
Here is a novel that would make for an interesting discussion...how much responsibility does anyone have for someone else's emotions? At what point does a situation become emotional blackmail? Who is being abused? How far would you compromise your life's path for the hope of making someone else happier?
Anthony Hoffmiller, a sad war hero, tells the tale of what transpired in his youth, something that led to the soul killing guilt that enabled him to not fear death during battle, that will make him feel shame until the day he dies.
I'll admit, toward the end of this novel, some of Lt. Hoffmiller's angst began to seem tedious to me, but then--perhaps that was the intended effect. This emotional turmoil turns a young officer into an emotional, exhausted wreck--and I felt it.
Just as Hoffmiller's story is coming to a climax, Archduke Franz Ferdinand is assassinated, which precipitates the beginning of WWI, and that makes this young man's woes seem insignificant, and yet--
There are no winners here. That's not a spoiler.
I can see why this is a classic...it's a very thought-provoking, well-written novel which asks timeless questions.
