Joseph Roth

Un magnifico romanzo poetico e decadente sulla fine di un'epoca, quella degli Asburgo. Una scrittura deliziosa e lieve. 8

It was a march indeed. One through military life and all its inadequacies (Carl Joseph drank miserably in the military but did not even need a cup in his civilian life) arguing that the military as an institution is devoid of anything good; the Kaiser was saved thanks to the military but to what end? Even the Kaiser recognised that war is a sin! Why must people acknowledge their sins on their deathbed when they can contemplate on it while alive? The march also shows the futility of pointless relationships with women already married; Old Trotta was instructed to avoid women and his life was all the better, Carl Joseph did not listen and he ruined the life of two people. This march shows us the beauty in an emotional father and son relationship that only came about due to mistakes in the son's life. Why can't people just think life through before acting on their impulses?