New York Review of Books The Post-Office Girl

This is a deeply satisfying, but at the same time a deeply unsettling piece of masterful writing. Many years ago I read the original book in German, but now have found that this exquisite English translation fits extremely well to Zweig's style of story-telling. Some commentators have likened `The Post Office Girl' to Cinderella, but whereas the latter is story is full of sweet sentiments, Zweig manages to recreate the hardship and despair of many people in Central Europe after the horrors of the First World War. In some ways a very simple story - little people trying to find their own identity and struggling against the society who have condemned them to an immutable fate. Therefore on the one hand an easy book to read, but on the other leaves you with a deep impression. A MUST Read for all lovers of satisfying and thought-provoking literature.

初めて英訳されたというので久しぶりにzweigの作品を読んでみました。ところがちょっと調べてみると、だいぶ前に「変身の魅惑」という題で邦訳済みの作品でした。そういう意味では、この「post office girl」という英訳の題はあまりにも即物性にとみ過ぎているようです。作品自体は、悲しいまでにやるせない作品です。中心となるのは、失われた世代の代表ともいうべきchritineです。1896年生まれの第一次大戦によって人生を狂わされた世代の絶望と反抗が見事に描写されます。zweigにしては珍しいほどに、この世代の反抗に、文字通り同調しているほどです。ただし反抗へのプロセスは一筋縄ではいきません。そのプロセスは紆余曲折をたどります。その紆余曲折が描かれるのが第一部です。ここでは、1926年に、世間知らずのchristineがスイスのリゾートホテルへひょんなことから招待され、自分の知らなかった世界を体験する姿が見事に描かれます。女性特有の様々なシーンが見事に描写されますが、女性の心理の変貌を描くzweigの筆致の繊細さは信じられないほどです。しかしながら、つまらないことから、この休暇は予定の2週間過ぎることなく途中で中断され、christineはもとの郵便局での生活に戻ることになります。第二部は、christineが似たような境遇の青年と遭遇し、運命への反逆を試みるところで終わります。後半の部分は、単純ほどに20年代の現体制への不平不満が語られますが、おそらくこのような人間像を中産階級から生み出さざるを得なかったヨーロッパへの絶望感がその基底にあるのでしょう。結末は、明示されることはありませんが、ここからzweigのブラジルにおける自殺まではそんなに距離は離れていないのかもしれません。

I find it difficult to be impartial when it comes to Zweig. His stories are consistently so well written and interesting, as is this latest discovery, thanks to Amazon. His stories are always engrossing and so is this one.

I only review a fraction of the number of books I read, so I don't give this compliment lightly. Summary, no spoilers: Let me start off by saying that it is difficult to give a good review of this book without slight spoilers - but I will do my best and try to still give a flavor of what makes this such a memorable read. This *gorgeously* written novel starts off with a brilliant description of a desolate country post office in Austria, in 1926. Working in this depressing bureaucratic hell, is a 28 year old woman named Christine, who has been beaten down by poverty, dullness and tedium in her life. Christine had a much different childhood; her family had substantial means and lived comfortably, and she grew up a happy and content child. But all changed with the Great War, and they, like so many other Europeans, lost everything. All that remains to Christine is her job with the post office, and taking care of her sick mother in a depressing and decrepit attic room. She is devoid of hope, and that is part of the key to this fantastic story. While toiling at the post office, Christine gets a telegraph message from her aunt in America - a woman she's never met. The wealthy aunt offers her a vacation at an expensive and elegant Alpine resort. Christine immediately runs to her mother to find out if this is real, and her mother explains that it is, and that her sister (the aunt) wanted her to go, but that she couldn't because she couldn't travel and that she should take Christine. Christine, utterly flummoxed by the thought of any change in the dull routine of her life, packs her small straw suitcase, and takes a train to meet her aunt. The description of Christine's arrival at the hotel are priceless and brilliant. Christine is overwhelmed by the beauty and by the elegance of everything, and she is like Cinderella at the ball. Her aunt (and uncle) are good to her, and dress her in beautiful clothing and have her hair cut in the latest elegant fashion, and have her face made-up. The scene reminded me of Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz movie - being primped and taken care of from every angle. Christine is so excited, and so astounded at her ability to feel anything but sadness and tedium, that she cannot sleep for the first night. She feels like her eyes have been opened to the beauty of the world, and she wants to take it all in. This is all from Part One, of this two part novel. If you want absolutely no spoilers, don't read on (and don't read the back cover of the novel) - although I recommend that you do and that it won't take away from your enjoyment of this novel. For me, knowing a little bit in advance only enhanced my reading experience. Part Two is a far different story, although it takes place immediately afterwards. Christine, like Cinderella, has been returned to the hovel, but now it all becomes unbearable because she has experienced and seen the other side. Christine befriends a man named Ferdinand, a bitter war veteran, who shares her world-view and despondency. They try to see each other and have a relationship, but this is not easy in post-war Austria, when one doesn't have any money or means. But they make plans... There are so many things to love about this book - number one being that it's just so beautifully written. There are paragraphs that I read over and over again, just because of Zweig's ability to string words together to get across a feeling or an idea or a description are just so perfect. And yet this is a translation, to boot! It makes me want to learn German, just so I could read this in its native language. Secondly, this is an astute novel about what it's like to live without hope, and what happens when someone who has nothing is given this chance to see what the good life is like, and then have it taken away from them. Is it better not to have been given this chance at all? Needless to say, this novel is highly recommended. I also highly recommend another NYRB Classic release, "Beware of Pity", Zweig's first novel released under this label. He is fast becoming my favorite author, and I hope that all of his books and stories become available in English. Sadly, he and his wife committed suicide in 1942 in Brazil, haunted by what was happening in his native Austria and Germany.

I love all Stefans books and this is one of the best besides Letter from unknown woman.