Journey into the Past

Marvellous evocation of a lost Europe and a lost romance

The translation from German seems quite effortless. And there are some well-written sentences, but, my goodness, for such a short text, this sure was boring! I found myself not caring a bit for what happens to the main character or his supposed love, who he never names. His love, until a crucial moment, seems Oedipal. Perhaps, his “love” represents the world before World War I and the post-war desolation of German, hence the lack of name. Motherland, not Fatherland.

Perhaps, it is unfair to judge an unfinished work too harshly. Also, the fact that the author and his wife committed suicide as World War II continued grinding at Europe and before the work could be published provides some explanation as to the over-reliance on nostalgia and inability/unwillingness to look forward. With that said, it still wasn't a particularly enthralling book that hasn't been bested many times. I just came off of “A Room With a View,” filled with Continental travel, languid day by frolicking in the Weald, and it was far more successful and compelling. However, I did see sparkles in the writing style, so I plan to read a longer work by Mr. Zweig.