Friday, July 3, 2020

Fear by Stefan Zweig

 I posting early because tomorrow I'm leaving for Florida.  It might take me a day to answer comments, but I will do my best.

Well, you can listen to it also, but this is what I was listening to when I wrote this review:  the Best Blues.

For the month of July I've been sending patriotic post cards.  Here are a few:











FearFear by Stefan Zweig

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Fascinating psychological tale about a woman who has everything: wealth, good family, security, whatever she wants. She's not bored, but neither does she care about anything. She calmly drifts through her life. She has children. They are there, but they hold little interest for her. She lets the governess and her husband tend to them.

She's perfectly self-satisfied, self-absorbed and completely non reflective. Her whole life is taken for granted.

There's another man in her life. She doesn't love him, but she enjoys the attention, the time together. The fact that she's cheating on her husband doesn't come into consideration. She simply doesn't think about anything that does not provide personal gratification.

Then one day, she is leaving her lover's apartment when she is confronted by a hag of a woman who accuses her of sleeping with her boyfriend. The hag screeches and screams and demands money to remain quiet about it.

The woman is terrified and gives her all the money she has on her. The hag says it's not enough. She wants more. The woman promises more and rushes away.

This is turning point of a placid, selfish existence into one of horror. The woman cannot sleep or eat. Somehow the hag has found where she lives. No matter how much money she gives the women, it is never enough. The hag is an albatross. She can't escape her, nor can't stand up to her-she's not used to fighting battles.

The woman becomes haggard as time goes on, she thinks of ending her life. Telling her husband is unthinkable. She'd rather die.

This story was a torment to get through, because, even though I did not like the lady, she was so helpless before the merciless hag.

I will not spoil the story, except to say, it ends in an unexpected way.



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Hope everyone is safe and have a wonderful 4th of July.




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14 comments:

Brian Joseph said...

Hi Sharon - You make this sound so interesting. It sounds a bit enigmatic. I want to know how it ends. I might give it a try.

Have a great trip and have a great 4th of July.

mudpuddle said...

this sounds quite a bit different than the last one... don't know if i'll read it right now as i'm into other stuff; interesting review, tho... great post cards! have a great trip!

Debbie Nolan said...

Sharon hope your visit to Florida is good. The book sounds very interesting. May have to read this one. Take care and stay safe. Hugs!

Jonathan said...

I think this one is in the novella collection published by Pushkin. It sounds like classic Zweig. I can't wait to read it myself.

Ruth @ with freedom and books said...

Oh, my goodness! You really got my attention. I'm going to add this to my wishlist. Yikes! Reminds me a little of Madame Bovary, though maybe it ended better for this woman? I don't know. Now I need to find out. Thanks...

Sharon Wilfong said...

Hi Brian

It was a hard story but it is worth reading. Hope you had a good weekend.

Sharon Wilfong said...

Hi mudpuddle. You're busy reading all those great travel stories. This story was almost like a horror story by Cornell Woolwich. Hope you had a good weekend.

Sharon Wilfong said...

Hi Debbie. I'm sure you had a beautiful weekend because of where you live and your sweet heart.God bless!

Sharon Wilfong said...

Hi Johnathan

That is the collection I have. I'm just reviewing the stories individually. Hope you had a great fourth.

Sharon Wilfong said...

Hi Ruth

You will not be disappointed with this story. Hope you had a wonderful fourth.

RTD said...

I will pass on the downer tale, but I much appreciate your fine review, posting, visuals, and audio ... best wishes from AL Gulf coast ... hope all’s well ...

Sharon Wilfong said...

Hi RT, Good to hear from you. I drove past Gulf Shores, I usually stop at the new Buckees that is there, but it was midnight and I wanted to get to my parents house on the Florida Gulf Coast.

I had a great week. It's so beautiful down there.

Thank you for visiting. Now that I'm back, I'll hop over to your blog.

Stephen said...

For some reason I have an inkling about this one's ending, one suggested by your description of the main character as increasing haggard......it sounds fascinating!

Sharon Wilfong said...

HI Stephen,

If you read the book, let me know if your guess was right.