I am sure there have been more vexing novels that have been written but I thankfully have not had the dishonor of reading them. This is not a bad noveI am sure there have been more vexing novels that have been written but I thankfully have not had the dishonor of reading them. This is not a bad novel. It is filled with incredible details and observations of the human heart that I will carry with me throughout my existence. Zweig is able to plum the very soul of humanity and its darkened thoughts as capably as any author I have read. But, and it is a big but, I have never wanted more for the two main characters Anton "Toni" Hofmiller and Edith Kekesfalva of a book to be completely annihilated. The imagining of these characters suffering from some random calamity provided me with the sustenance to complete this laborious work. This draining work, while filled with astute observations was hell to read as it lacked chapters or any semblance of momentum. Time seemed to slow to a crawl as the Groundhog Day affect continued. Toni is going to say something mildly offensive Edith, Edith is going to make Toni feel like garbage, the reader is going to hear about the torment for the next 15 pages, rinse and repeat. The word "crippled" or variants like "fettered" will be written hundreds of times.
If there was an award for most ironic statement ever uttered by a character in a work of literature, then Toni stating, "Melodramatic phrases revolt me", has to be the winner. He may be the most emotive character I have ever witnessed. If I were to synthesize all of most emo bands in to one supergroup and had them create the most impassioned song and played it on an endless loop then I would still need be only half as dramatic as Toni. Despite my disdain for this character, I am able to give credit to Zwieg for writing such an insufferable person. He is a master of creating a realistic portrayal of someone who does not understand how to relate to anyone who is different. Whether it is someone with a chronic condition that leads them virtually paralyzed like Edith or even the doctor who is attempting to treat Edith, Toni is a social nincompoop. Basically all he can do, is parade his horse in finery while giving mundane instructions to his troops. When it comes to anything that is not carnal he is more useless than a boar with tits.
While, Toni is the storyteller and ostensibly the main character, it is Edith that is the focal point. She is a 17 year old young woman whose body has betrayed her. She suffers from a spinal issue that has left her essentially paralyzed. Her physical suffering and Toni's awkward and misguided attempts to understand her is what makes up the crux of this story. His pitying of Edith and the resultant issues that transpire because of this forms the framework. They first meet at a party given at Edith's palatial home. Toni repeatedly asks Edith for a dance, unaware she lacks mobility. Instead of apologizing like a normal person, he blows everything out of proportion and makes a mountain out of molehill. Unfortunately for Toni, while Edith may not be physically his match, she is far his superior emotionally and intellectually. Edith uses her disability to her advantage in leveraging and manipulating her father and cousin. She sets her sights on the vapid Toni, who is only too happy to take advantage of her generous father. He frequents her home, eating sumptuous feasts and smoking expensive cigars; not knowing or even thinking about how this could affect a young women's feelings. He is too busy mooching off her and acting like she is a piece of furniture to notice how he provides her hope for a possible better future. It is this final insult; the lack of understanding from Toni that Edith is not merely an object or just her disability but a person in full, with deep emotions and feelings that ultimately betrays both of them.
Clearly this is a very affecting novel with loads of excellent quotes and adroit depictions of how people think and act around those they don't understand. For many days I could only read 10 to 15 pages and would put it down with a mixture of reverence and contempt. I revered some of the passages and observations but grew to despise the characters' constant manipulations. I can certainly say I did not enjoy this experience but I certainly feel like I learned a little about the human psyche including my own from this book. ...more
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