Book presentation with translator Anthea Bell and Paul Bailey

Stefan Zweig (born 1881 in Vienna) studied in Berlin and Vienna and was first known as a poet and translator. In 1934, with the rise of Nazism, he briefly moved to London, taking British citizenship. After a short period in New York, he settled in Brazil until his death in 1942. Among his most famous works are Twenty-Four Hours in the Life of a Woman, Fantastic Night, The Royal Game and his masterpiece novel Beware of Pity, all published by Pushkin Press.

Journey into the Past, Zweig’s long-lost final novella recently rediscovered in manuscript form, simultaneously portrays the loss of innocence of a country bout to succumb to the evils of fascism. It is a poignant examination of the angst of nostalgia and the fragility of love. It tells the story of separated lovers and their reunion following the end of the First World War. Previously divided by class and wealth, both are now married and much changed by their recent experiences, and they must find out whether their love could survive the hardships, betrayals and the lapse of time. Anthea Bell is an acclaimed British translator who has translated numerous literary works from French, German, Danish and Polish to English. She has translated several Zweig works and is also known for her translations of the French comic Asterix. Paul Bailey’s achievements as a writer and broadcaster have earned him numerous awards and prizes including the E. M. Forster Award in 1974. His novels include Peter Smart’s Confessions (1977) and Gabriel’s Lament (1986), both shortlisted for the Booker Prize for Fiction.