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丕賱鬲丨賵賱

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听 The post-office girl is Christine, who looks after her ailing mother and toils in a provincial Austrian post office in the years just after the Great War. One afternoon, as she is dozing among the official forms and stamps, a telegraph arrives addressed to her. It is from her rich aunt, who lives in America and writes requesting that Christine join her and her husband in a Swiss Alpine resort. After a dizzying train ride, Christine finds herself at the top of the world, enjoying a life of privilege that she had never imagined. But Christine鈥檚 aunt drops her as abruptly as she picked her up, and soon the young woman is back at the provincial post office, consumed with disappointment and bitterness. Then she meets Ferdinand, a wounded but eloquent war veteran who is able to give voice to the disaffection of his generation. Christine鈥檚 and Ferdinand鈥檚 lives spiral downward, before Ferdinand comes up with a plan which will be either their salvation or their doom. Never before published in English, this extraordinary book is an unexpected and haunting foray into noir fiction by one of the masters of the psychological novel.

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

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About the author

Stefan Zweig

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Stefan Zweig was one of the world's most famous writers during the 1920s and 1930s, especially in the U.S., South America, and Europe. He produced novels, plays, biographies, and journalist pieces. Among his most famous works are Beware of Pity, Letter from an Unknown Woman, and Mary, Queen of Scotland and the Isles. He and his second wife committed suicide in 1942.
Zweig studied in Austria, France, and Germany before settling in Salzburg in 1913. In 1934, driven into exile by the Nazis, he emigrated to England and then, in 1940, to Brazil by way of New York. Finding only growing loneliness and disillusionment in their new surroundings, he and his second wife committed suicide.
Zweig's interest in psychology and the teachings of Sigmund Freud led to his most characteristic work, the subtle portrayal of character. Zweig's essays include studies of Honor茅 de Balzac, Charles Dickens, and Fyodor Dostoevsky (Drei Meister, 1920; Three Masters) and of Friedrich H枚lderlin, Heinrich von Kleist, and Friedrich Nietzsche (Der Kampf mit dem D盲mon, 1925; Master Builders). He achieved popularity with Sternstunden der Menschheit (1928; The Tide of Fortune), five historical portraits in miniature. He wrote full-scale, intuitive rather than objective, biographies of the French statesman Joseph Fouch茅 (1929), Mary Stuart (1935), and others. His stories include those in Verwirrung der Gef眉hle (1925; Conflicts). He also wrote a psychological novel, Ungeduld des Herzens (1938; Beware of Pity), and translated works of Charles Baudelaire, Paul Verlaine, and Emile Verhaeren.
Most recently, his works provided the inspiration for 2014 film The Grand Budapest Hotel.

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Profile Image for Jim Fonseca.
1,139 reviews8,156 followers
May 17, 2019
A story of poverty, despair and disillusioned lives. (Another 鈥榣ight鈥� read, LOL.) A young woman, a post office clerk in Austria, has lived in poverty supporting her mother most of her life. She was born in 1898 and thus in her teens went through the deprivations of WW I. 鈥淭he war stole her decade of youth.鈥� Her small village offers no marriage prospects.

Suddenly a wealthy aunt and uncle from the United States invite her to visit with them on vacation in the Swiss Alps. For a little more than one week, the young woman enters a whirlpool of an unimaginable life. Her aunt buys her clothes and cosmetics and re-styles her hair 鈥� not realizing she spent an amount equal to her niece鈥檚 annual salary. Hotels, dancing, gambling, restaurants, room service and maids, fast cars (and petting with the wealthy men in them). Her uncle shares a single gambling bet with her, not realizing he has given her another half of her annual salary. It鈥檚 TOO much. I won鈥檛 give a spoiler here but it all ends abruptly and she goes back to her village and her job. Her mother soon dies.

description

She plunges into despair at her again-empty life. She turns into a petty tyrant at the post office, snapping at customers and making them strictly follow all the stupid bureaucratic rules. She has a sister in Vienna, an hour鈥檚 train ride away, and here she finally meets her soulmate - an old army buddy of her brother-in-law. The man she meets is equally poverty-stricken and disillusioned with life because he has crippled hands from the war but no disability pension. Jobs where you don鈥檛 need to use your hands are hard to come by as the depression is looming. Then he loses that job and he鈥檚 worried about turning into a beggar on the streets.

They both come to believe in the 鈥渉orrible purposelessness of life:鈥� 鈥淓very morning when I go to work I see people coming out of their front doors, underslept, cheerless, their faces blank, see them going to work that they haven鈥檛 chosen and have no love for and that means nothing to them, and then again in the evening I see them in the streetcars on their way back, their expressions leaden, their feet leaden, all of them exhausted for no good reason, or some reason they don鈥檛 understand.鈥�

They meet weekly in Vienna but have no money to really enjoy themselves. They can鈥檛 even afford a hotel to be intimate 鈥� they tried a flophouse and she is terrified to go back after it was raided by the police looking for prostitutes. They are so disillusioned that he talks her into committing suicide with him.
(He has a pistol from the war.)

description

This incident about joint suicide eerily foreshadows the way the author will die. He and his second wife killed themselves with poison in exile in Brazil in 1942. Zweig fled Austria as he was Jewish.

But once you鈥檙e open to suicide, other unthinkable possibilities occur to you.

description

There's good writing:

鈥淪omeone who鈥檚 on top of the world isn鈥檛 much of an observer: happy people are poor psychologists. But someone who鈥檚 troubled about something is on the alert. The perceived threat sharpens his senses 鈥� he takes in more than he usually does.鈥�

鈥� 鈥楴o, no,鈥� Christine says, or rather her lips say it, the way a patient going under anesthesia might continue counting after losing consciousness.鈥�

Zweig (1881-1942) was a prolific author with 25 or so books. Only a few, such as Post Office Girl, are full novels 鈥� many are novellas and collections of short stories. He was at one time considered the most translated author in the world.

Top photo: Park Hotel in Vitznau, Switzerland from edge.media.datahc.com

Middle photo: Vienna in the early 1900鈥檚 from cliomuse.com

Photo of the author and his second wife, Lotte from Flickr, Creative Commons

Profile Image for Kalliope.
714 reviews22 followers
February 16, 2016




FRAGMENTED IDENTITIES / FRAGMENTED NOVEL

One has to approach this novella with trepidation. Zweig did not publish it. The first and posthumous edition is from 1982, after a considerable reworking of Zweig鈥檚 drafts by Knut Beck. Zweig took his own life in a planned manner in February 1942, but before doing so he had sent to his publisher two manuscripts which he had just finished: his memoirs or and . To leave this earlier work unfinished was his decision.

The German edition has a most interesting Afterword by Beck, the paramount editor, in which he explains the history of the composition. Beck quotes from a letter by Zweig from 1931 in which he confides that he is stuck in the middle of the novel and that he felt as in front of a ditch (ein tiefer Graben). He probably stopped there and years later, when he was already living in London, took it up again. This was going to be his first novel.

We don鈥檛 even have his title for the work. It has been published in German under Der Rausch der Verwandlung (The Intoxication of Transformation), and this title has been kept literal in the translations into French and Spanish. It originates in a couple of fragments from the book and Beck picked it. For the English edition, or The Post Office Girl, my understanding is that the very different title was borrowed from a tag used by Donald Prater in his biography from the 1970s (mentioned by Beck as 笔辞蝉迟蹿谤盲耻濒别颈苍驳别蝉肠丑颈肠丑迟别).

I have to say that I don鈥檛 like this English title. It is too prosaic and there is an enchanting amount of lyricism in this novel. But the German title does not entirely suit it either, or may be it suits half of the work.

But that is just it: this title suits the part that Zweig wrote before he felt to be in front of a hole.

Because the novel itself, in its current form, is somewhat fragmented, as was its conception. And this I clearly felt while I was reading it. Disconcerted, I posted an update stating that I did not know where Zweig was going.

In the first part, and the English edition has indeed adroitly created two separate parts, Zweig presents in his very characteristic way what has been called an existential version of the Cinderella story. But Zweig is our literary cardiologist. He is the author who with his pen can listen to a heart pulsating and give us, flowingly, the life that emanates from that inner pump. Using expansive imagery in which he equates the landscape in the Alps with the inner workings of a young woman鈥檚 heart he brings forth issues of identity 鈥� and fragmentation. Because in taking her pulse he has detected more than one heart.

And so Zweig shows us that traveling can exert its transforming power. It can tear away from the individual the protecting shell of conventionality. The metamorphosis thus began and Christine Hoflehner becomes the much happier Christiane van Boolen. And questions are raised. What constitutes one鈥檚 identity? How come a different self can be conjured up by a change of setting and a change of clothes? Is materiality so determinant for the soul then? Do we have more than one 鈥淚鈥� if one starts accumulating, deep in one鈥檚 consciousness, different experiences from those lived in the past? How many "selves" do we have?





Zweig dwelt on this idea, and on his memories from his earlier time in Engadin, when he first worked on this novel. When he returned to the work, his own life and his own circumstances had changed. He was living in exile and in distraught awareness of the dreadful political situations with as yet unforeseen consequences that were developing in his and other countries. He was also going through the divorce from his first wife and the marriage to his young secretary.

Zweig himself was grappling with his newly transforming identity as he undertook the continuation of his story and the search for the soul of Christine. In a different tone he proceeded to project a greater emphasis on the limitations that prevent full control of one鈥檚 life and destiny. With this new focal point social and political circumstances, and money, take on an unexpected role. Money, the magic substance that can become the mirror of one鈥檚 desires, becomes the helm that could allow a person to steer towards the desired self.

Zweig however felt that he had not succeeded in this literary attempt and left the drafts on loose sheets. And Beck鈥檚 archivist work could only leave us a novella that did not quite become a novel. Its modernist tint and ending may not be intentional.

With interest I learn, also from Beck, that in the early 1940s Zweig took his manuscript up again, but this time to adapt it to a film. He worked very closely with Berthold Viertel on the new script. It was filmed, also posthumously, in 1950 as Das Verstohlene Jahr. The basic story had been transformed to include an additional episode (the sabbatical year of a Composer) not present in the book as Beck has graciously delivered it to us.


Now I am on the search for that film.
Profile Image for Brian.
Author听1 book1,198 followers
September 5, 2013
The world would be a better place if we could all just agree to read more Stefan Zweig. Is that so hard?

I have a pet theory, my own personal belief why Stefan has been neglected. Before the dawn of the e-book, Zweig's novels were shelved in libraries and bookstores in that alphabetical no-man's land: the tail end of the last shelf, right next to those spare metal bookends that look like jetsam from the Millenium Falcon. I can honestly say I've never once, ever, browsed without purpose in the Z's for a book. Zw? You're just asking to be the coaster for some asshat's unfinished Starbucks.

This is only the second Zweig I've read, both ebooks (I will remedy this!) and I am going to, 100%, read everything he has written. Several of you Goodread chums have read and know how Zweig can write beautiful prose and tell a great story. His characters are rich, his settings vibrant and the pacing of his books is just ... enviable.

This novel is a gem and centers around the maxim that if money can't buy you happiness, it certainly can pay-off a lot of the blues. I'm not a plot recapper - you can get a good idea of the story from the GR synopsis. But this book is so much more than what happens. Here's a li'l something from Stefan:

"The vast power of money, mighty when you have it and mightier when you don't, with its divine gift of freedom and the demonic fury it unleashes on those forced to do without it..."

This story also has one of best endings I've read in a long while. I love pomo, experimental and all types of fiction. But sometimes I just want a really great story. And this book is exactly that.

Thanks much to my two GR friends, Proustitue and Kris for insisting I read Zweig.
Profile Image for Dalia Nourelden.
678 reviews1,088 followers
February 19, 2024
鬲賯賷賷賲賶 伽.佶 /佶



賮賷 丕賱亘丿丕賷丞 兀乇睾亘 賮賷 丕賱鬲毓亘賷乇 毓賳 廿毓噩丕亘賷 丕賱卮丿賷丿 亘睾賱丕賮 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 貙 丕賱氐賵乇丞 賵賱賵賳 丕賱睾賱丕賮 丕賱賲賲賷夭 丨賯丕賸 貙 賰丕賳賵丕 賲亘賴乇賷賳 賱賷 胤賵丕賱 賮鬲乇丞 丕賱賯乇丕亍丞. 賱匕丕 鬲丨賷丞 賱賲氐賲賲 丕賱睾賱丕賮 .

孬賲 賳賳鬲賯賱 丕賱賶 丕亘丿丕亍 廿毓噩丕亘賷 丕賱卮丿賷丿 亘夭賮丕賷噩 賵丕爻賱賵亘賴. 賱賷爻鬲 賴匕賴 丕賵賱 賯乇丕亍丞 賱賴 貙 賵夭賮丕賷噩 睾賳賷 毓賳 丕賱鬲毓乇賷賮貙 賵鬲毓亘賷乇丕鬲賴 賵鬲卮亘賷賴丕鬲賴 賵丿禺賵賱賴 賮賶 兀毓賲丕賯 丕賱賳賮爻 丕賱亘卮乇賷丞 賲匕賴賱 貙 賵賴賵 賲賲賳 賷爻鬲胤賷毓賵丕 亘賳噩丕丨 賲亘賴乇 鬲丨賵賷賱 賯氐丞 毓丕丿賷丞 賮賷 賮賰乇鬲賴丕 賱賯氐丞 睾賷乇 毓丕丿賷丞 賮賷 丕爻賱賵亘 毓乇囟賴丕 賵賴匕丕 賴賵 賲丕賮毓賱賴 賴賳丕 .賵乇睾賲 丕賳 锟斤拷賱乇賵丕賷丞 睾賷乇 賲賰鬲賲賱丞 賵乇睾賲 丕賳 賴匕賴 賱賷爻鬲 丕賵賱 賯乇丕亍丞 賱賷 賱夭賮丕賷噩 廿賱丕 丕賳賴 賴賳丕 丕亘賴乇賳賷 亘鬲毓亘賷乇丕鬲賴 賵鬲卮亘賷賴丕鬲賴 賵毓乇囟賴 賱賱卮禺氐賷丞 賵鬲丿乇噩丕鬲 鬲丨賵賱賴丕 賵賵氐賮 賲卮丕毓乇賴丕 賵丕賮賰丕乇賴丕 賵鬲禺亘胤丕鬲賴丕 亘胤乇賷賯丞 乇丕卅毓丞 .噩毓賱鬲賳賶 胤賵丕賱 丕賱賯乇丕亍丞 賮賷 丨丕賱丞 锟斤拷毓噩丕亘 丨賯賷賯賶 賵丨夭賳 卮丿賷丿 賱賲毓乇賮鬲賷 丕賳 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 睾賷乇 賲賰鬲賲賱丞 賵丕賳賴 丕賳鬲丨乇 賯亘賱 丕賳賴丕卅賴丕 . 賮胤賵丕賱 賯乇丕卅鬲賷 賵賲毓 賰賱 廿毓噩丕亘 亘鬲卮亘賷賴 丕賵 噩賲賱丞 賷氐丕丨亘賴丕 鬲賮賰賷乇 賲賳賶 ( 賱賲丕匕丕 賱賲 鬲丐噩賱 丕賳鬲丨丕乇賰 責 賱賲丕匕丕 賱賲 鬲賰賲賱 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 孬賲 鬲賳鬲丨乇!馃槶馃槀) 賵賱賲丕匕丕 丕賳鬲丨乇鬲 賵賱賲 鬲賰賲賱 賴匕賴 丕賱丕亘丿丕毓 !! 賱賰賳 賷亘丿賵 丕賳 乇賵丨賴 賰丕賳鬲 賯丿 丕氐亘丨鬲 賲孬賯賱丞 賱丿乇噩丞 賱賲 鬲噩毓賱賴 賯丕丿乇丕 賸 毓賱賶 丕賱鬲丨賲賱 丕賰孬乇 賲賳 匕賱賰 馃挃.

" 賱賯丿 爻乇賯賵丕 賲賳丕 兀毓賲丕乇賳丕 賵賱賲 賷毓胤賵賳丕 卮賷卅丕 賮賷 丕賱賲賯丕亘賱貙 賱丕 爻賱丕賲 賵賱丕 爻毓丕丿丞 賵賱丕 賵賯鬲 賮賷 丕賱賲賯丕亘賱 貙 賵賱丕 乇丕丨丞 "

賵賱兀賳 夭賮丕賷噩 賰丕賳 賲賳 賰丕乇賴賷 賯賷丕賲 丕賱丨乇亘 賵賲賳 丕賱賲賳丿丿賷賳 亘丕賱兀丨丿丕孬 賵賰丕賳 賲賲賳 鬲兀孬乇賵丕 爻賱亘賷丕 噩丿丕 亘爻亘亘賴丕 貙 賮賰丕賳 賲賳 丕賱胤亘賷毓賶 丕賳 鬲兀鬲賶 乇賵丕賷鬲賴 賵賳賱賲爻 賮賷賴丕 鬲兀孬賷乇 賴匕賴 丕賱丨乇亘 毓賱賶 丕賱賲噩鬲賲毓 . 賵賲賳 賷爻鬲胤賷毓 丕賳 賷爻亘乇 兀睾賵丕乇 丕賱賳賮爻 丕賱亘卮乇賷丞 賵賷氐賮 賱賳丕 鬲丕孬賷乇丕鬲 丕賱兀丨丿丕孬 毓賱賶 丕賱賳賮爻 丕賱亘卮乇賷丞 賵毓賱賶 丨賷丕鬲賴丕 賰賲丕 賷賮毓賱 夭賮丕賷噩 丕賱匕賷 賳噩丨 賮賷 乇爻賲 賵廿賷氐丕賱 丕賱賲卮丕毓乇 賵丕賱鬲丨賵賱丕鬲 賵丕賱兀賮賰丕乇 亘卮賰賱 賲匕賴賱 爻賵丕亍 賲賳 禺賱丕賱 賰乇賷爻鬲賷賳 賵賲丕 賲乇鬲 亘賴 賴賶 賵毓丕卅賱鬲賴丕 賮賷 丕賱噩夭亍 丕賱丕賵賱 丕賵 賲賳 禺賱丕賱 賲丕丨丿孬 賲毓 賮乇丿賷賳丕賷丿 丕賱匕賷 馗賴乇 賮賷 丕賱噩夭亍 丕賱孬丕賳賷 賵丕乇丕卅賴 賵爻禺胤賴 毓賱賶 丕賱丨賰賵賲丞 .



" 賲賳 毓賱賲賳丕 丕賱睾卮 廿賳 賱賲 鬲賰賳 丕賱丿賵賱丞責 賰賷賮 賰丕賳 賷賲賰賳 兀賳 賳毓乇賮 亘胤乇賷賯丞 兀禺乇賶 兀賳 丕賱賲丕賱 丕賱匕賷 丕丿禺乇鬲賴 孬賱丕孬丞 兀噩賷丕賱 賷賲賰賳 兀賳 賷氐亘丨 賮噩兀丞 亘賱丕 賯賷賲丞 賮賷 睾囟賵賳 兀爻亘賵毓賷賳貙 賵兀賳 鬲爻賱亘 丕賱兀爻乇 賲賳 賲乇丕毓賷賴丕 賵賲賳丕夭賱賴丕 賵丨賯賵賱賴丕 丕賱鬲賷 賰丕賳鬲 賲賱賰賴丕 賱賲丕卅丞 毓丕賲 責
亘丨賯 丕賱賱賴 賱丿賷賳丕 丿毓賵丞 賯賵賷丞 噩丿丕賸 囟丿 丕賱丿賵賱丞 貙 賵爻賵賮 賳賮賵夭 亘賴丕 賮賷 丕賶 賲丨賰賲丞 ! 賱丕 賷賲賰賳賴丕 兀亘丿丕賸 兀賳 鬲爻丿丿 丿賷賳賴丕 丕賱賲乇賷毓 賱賳丕貙 賵賱丕 賷賲賰賳賴丕 兀賳 鬲乇丿 賲丕 爻賱亘鬲賴 賲賳丕."




賮賷 丕賱噩夭亍 丕賱丕賵賱 賳鬲毓乇賮 毓賱賶 賰乇賷爻鬲賷賳 丕賱鬲賶 賰丕賳鬲 鬲毓賲賱 賮賷 賲賰鬲亘 丕賱亘乇賷丿 賱鬲鬲賮丕噩兀 亘鬲賱賯賷 亘乇賯賷丞 亘廿爻賲賴丕 亘丿毓賵丞 賲賳 禺丕賱鬲賴丕 丕賱鬲賶 賱賲 鬲乇丕賴丕 賵賱丕 鬲毓乇賮 毓賳賴丕 卮賷卅丕賸 賲賳匕 爻賳賵丕鬲 賱夭賷丕乇鬲賴丕 賵賯囟丕亍 丕賱兀噩丕夭丞 賲毓賴丕 賴賶 賵夭賵噩賴丕 賮賷 爻賵賷爻乇丕 .鬲賮乇丨 賵丕賱丿鬲賴丕 丕賱賲乇賷囟丞 賰孬賷乇丕 賱賴匕賴 丕賱丿毓賵丞 馗賳丕賸 賲賳賴丕 丕賳 兀禺鬲賴丕 賯丿 鬲匕賰乇鬲賴賲 賵 爻鬲爻鬲胤賷毓 丕賱丕毓鬲賳丕亍 亘廿亘賳鬲賴丕 賵丕賳鬲卮丕賱賴丕 賲賳 丨丕賱丞 丕賱賮賯乇 丕賱賲丿賯毓 丕賱鬲賷 賷毓賷卮賵賳 亘賴丕 . 賱賰賳 賰乇賷爻鬲賷賳 賱賲 鬲卮毓乇 亘賳賮爻 丕賱爻毓丕丿丞



"賲丕匕丕 兀賱賲 亘賰責 鬲賯賮賷賳 賴賳丕賰 賰丨噩乇 賵賱丕 鬲賯賵賱賷賳 卮賷卅丕! 賷丕賱賴丕 賲賳 賮乇氐丞 ! 毓賱賷賰 兀賳 鬲賰賵賳賷 爻毓賷丿丞! 賱賲丕匕丕 兀賳鬲 睾賷乇 爻毓賷丿丞 責

賳毓賲 賴賶 賮乇氐丞 爻毓賷丿丞 噩丿丕 亘丕賱賮毓賱 貙 賵鬲鬲賲賳丕賴丕 賰乇賷爻鬲賷賳 賲賳匕 夭賲賳 賱賰賳賴丕 兀賷囟丕 賲賳匕 爻賳賵丕鬲 賯丿 賳爻賷鬲 賲毓賳賶 賰賱賲丞 爻毓丕丿丞 ! 賰兀賳賴丕 賱睾丞 丕噩賳亘賷丞 鬲毓賱賲鬲賴丕 賮賷 胤賮賵賱鬲賴丕 賵賱賲 鬲毓丿 鬲鬲匕賰乇賴丕 ! 賮賴賶 賱賲 鬲毓丿 鬲鬲匕賰乇 賲鬲賶 賰丕賳鬲 丌禺乇 賲乇丞 卮毓乇鬲 賮賷賴丕 亘丕賱賮乇丨 責
賮鬲爻鬲毓賷丿 丕賱匕賰乇賷丕鬲 賵鬲毓賵丿 亘匕丕賰乇鬲賴丕 丕賱賶 賳賴丕賷丞 丕禺乇 賮鬲乇丕鬲 爻毓丕丿鬲賴丕 賮賷 毓丕賲 佟侃佟伽 賵賴賶 賮賷 丕賱爻丕丿爻丞 毓卮乇 賲賳 毓賲乇賴丕 丨賷賳 毓丕丿鬲 賱鬲毓乇賮 亘丕賱丨乇亘 貙 賵鬲賯氐 毓賱賷賳丕 爻乇賷毓丕 賲丕丨丿孬 賲毓 毓丕卅賱鬲賴丕 賲賳 賲賵鬲 丕禺賷賴丕 賮賷 丕賱丨乇亘 賱禺爻丕乇丞 賵丕賱丿賴丕 賱毓賲賱賴 賵鬲丿賴賵乇 丨丕賱鬲賴賲 丕賱賲丕丿賷丞 丕賱賶 丕賱賮賯乇 丕賱賲丿賯毓 賱賷氐亘丨 賰賱 卮卅 賲賳 賲鬲胤賱亘丕鬲 丕賱丨賷丕丞 丕賱亘爻賷胤丞 賷賳丿乇噩 鬲丨鬲 毓亘丕乇丞 ( 賲賰賱賮 噩丿丕 ) 孬賲 賲賵鬲 賵丕賱丿賴丕 賵賲乇囟 賵丕賱丿鬲賴丕 賵鬲賱賯賷賴丕 賴賶 丕禺賷乇丕 賵馗賷賮丞 賱賱毓賲賱 賮賷 賲賰鬲亘 丕賱亘乇賷丿.
賱匕丕 賮賴丕 賴賶 丕賱丕賳 亘毓丿賲丕 亘賱睾鬲 丕賱孬丕賲賳丞 賵毓卮乇賵賳 賲賳 毓賲乇賴丕 賵亘毓丿 賰賱 賲丕賲乇鬲 亘賴 鬲丨丕賵賱 鬲匕賰乇 賲毓賳賶 丕賱爻毓丕丿丞 ! 賵鬲亘丿兀 賮賷 丕賱廿毓丿丕丿 賱賱爻賮乇 .
賵賷亘丿兀 丕賱丕賳亘賴丕乇 亘丕賱賲賳丕馗乇 丕賱鬲賶 鬲乇丕賴丕 丕孬賳丕亍 丕賱爻賮乇 賵賷馗賴乇 丕賳亘賴丕乇賴丕 丕賱兀賰亘乇 丨賷賳 鬲氐賱 賱賱賮賳丿賯 賵鬲乇賶 賮禺丕賲鬲賴 賵賲馗賴乇 睾乇賮鬲賴丕 賵丕賱賲賳馗乇 丕賱鬲賶 鬲胤賱 毓賱賷賴 賵鬲乇賶 丕賱夭亘丕卅賳 丕賱賲鬲賵丕噩丿賷賳 賵鬲卮毓乇 丨賷賳賴丕 亘丕賱囟丌賱丞 賵丕賱禺噩賱 賲賳 賲賱丕亘爻賴丕 賵賲馗賴乇賴丕 丕賱賲夭乇賶 丕賱賮賯賷乇 賵鬲卮毓乇 亘賳馗乇丕鬲 丕賱丕禺乇賷賳 賱賴丕 鬲禺鬲乇賯賴丕 .



" 鬲賲乇 毓丿賵丕賸 丕賲丕賲 賰賱 乇賵丕丿 丕賱賮賳丿賯 禺賵賮丕賸 賲賳 兀賳 賷賱丕丨馗賵賴丕 . 鬲毓丿賵 卮丕丨亘丞 賲鬲賯胤毓丞 丕賱兀賳賮丕爻 亘氐丿睾賷賳 禺丕賮賯賷賳 賵卮毓賵乇 亘丕賱睾孬賷丕賳 賰賲丕 賱賵 丕賳賴丕 鬲爻賷乇 賮賵賯 噩乇賮 "

賵鬲爻鬲賯亘賱賴丕 禺丕賱鬲賴丕 賵夭賵噩賴丕 孬賲 賷亘丿兀 丕賱鬲睾賷乇 丨賷賳 鬲毓胤賷賴丕 禺丕賱鬲賴丕 賲賳 賮爻丕鬲賷賳賴丕 賵鬲兀禺匕賴丕 賱鬲卮鬲乇賶 賱賴丕 廿丨鬲賷丕噩丕鬲賴丕 賵鬲氐賮賮 卮毓乇賴丕 . 賵鬲亘丿兀 賰乇賷爻鬲賷賳 亘賲爻丕毓丿丞 禺丕賱鬲賴丕 賮賷 丕賱丕賳丿賲丕噩 賲毓 賴匕丕 丕賱賲噩鬲賲毓 丕賱噩丿賷丿 賵鬲卮毓乇 亘丕賱廿孬丕乇丞 賱鬲賵丕噩丿賴丕 賮賷 賴匕丕 丕賱賲賰丕賳 賵 丕乇鬲丿丕卅賴丕 賴匕賴 丕賱賲賱丕亘爻 .賵鬲賳睾賲爻 賮賷 賲亘丕賴噩 賴匕賴 丕賱丨賷丕丞 丕賱噩丿賷丿丞 賵鬲賰賵賳 丕賱氐丿丕賯丕鬲 賲毓 丕賱噩賲賷毓.





賱賰賳 貙 賲丕匕丕 爻賷丨丿孬 亘毓丿 匕賱賰!!責

" .賱賲丕匕丕 賳丨賳 賲賳 賳毓丕賳賷 丿丕卅賲丕 責 賱賲 賳禺胤卅 賮賷 卮卅 . 賱賲 賳賮毓賱 賲賰乇賵賴丕賸 賱兀丨丿 貙 賵賱賰賳 賮賷 賰賱 禺胤賵丞 賳禺胤賵賴丕 賳噩丿 兀賳賮爻賳丕 賯丿 賵賯毓賳丕 賮賷 賮禺. 賱賲 兀胤賱亘 丕亘丿丕 丕賱賰孬賷乇. 匕丕鬲 賲乇丞 丨馗賷鬲 亘毓胤賱丞 賵兀乇丿鬲 丕賳 丕氐亘丨 賰丕賱丌禺乇賷賳貙 丕乇丿鬲 兀賳 丕氐亘丨 丨乇丞 賵兀卮毓乇 亘丕賱乇丕丨丞"

孬賲 賳賳鬲賯賱 賱賱噩夭亍 丕賱孬丕賳賷 亘毓丿 毓賵丿丞 賰乇賷爻鬲賷賳 賲乇丞 丕禺乇賶 廿賱賶 亘賱丿鬲賴丕 貙 賮賴賱 毓丕丿鬲 賰乇賷爻鬲賷賳 賰賲丕 賴賶 責 賴賱 爻鬲馗賱 賳馗乇鬲賴丕 賵鬲毓丕賲賱賴丕 賲毓 丕賱丌禺乇賷賳 賰賲丕 賴賵 責責!

賵鬲賱鬲賯賷 賰乇賷爻鬲賷賳 亘賮乇丿賷賳丕賳丿 賵賴賵 氐丿賷賯 賱夭賵噩 兀禺鬲賴丕 賵 賰丕賳 乇賮賷賯 丕賱爻賱丕丨 賮賷 丕賱丨乇亘 賵 丕賱匕賷 賷賯氐 毓賱賷賳丕 賴賵 丕賱丕禺乇 賯氐鬲賴 賵鬲兀孬賷乇 丕賱丨乇亘 毓賱賷賴 賵賲丕 丨丿孬 賲毓賴 丕孬賳丕亍 毓賵丿鬲賴 賱亘賱丕丿賴 亘毓丿 丕賱丨乇亘 賵賮賯丿丕賳賴 賱兀氐丕亘毓賴 賵賲丕賱丕賯丕賴 兀孬賳丕亍 丕賱毓賵丿丞 賵賲丕丨丿孬 賱賴 賲賳匕 賵賯鬲賴丕 . 賵丕賱賮賯乇 丕賱賲丿賯毓 丕賱匕賷 賷毓賷卮 賮賷賴 .
賵丕賲鬲賳丕毓 丕賱丿賵賱丞 丕賱賳賲爻丕賵賷丞 毓賳 丕賱鬲毓賵賷囟 毓賱賷賴 亘爻亘亘 廿毓丕賯鬲賴
賵賷亘丿兀 丕賱鬲賯丕乇亘 亘賷賳 賮乇丿賷賳丕賳丿 賰乇賷爻鬲賷賳 賵鬲賯氐 毓賱賷賴 賰乇賷爻鬲賷賳 丨賰丕賷鬲賴丕

"賱賯丿 賮賴賲賴丕 鬲賲丕賲丕賸 賰賲丕 賮賴賲鬲賴 貙 賵噩賲毓賴賲丕 鬲囟丕賲賳 卮毓賵乇賴賲丕 亘丕賱睾囟亘 賵丕賱鬲賵丕乇賷. 賵賲丕 廿賳 賮鬲丨鬲 兀亘賵丕亘 丕賱爻丿 貙賱賲 鬲購睾賱賯 孬丕賳賷丞. 賱賯丿 賯丕賱鬲 兀賰孬乇 賲賲丕 兀乇丕丿鬲 兀賳 鬲賯賵賱賴 毓賳 賳賮爻賴丕. 鬲丨丿孬鬲 毓賳 賰乇賴賴丕 賱賱賯乇賷丞 貙 賵睾囟亘賴丕 賲賳 丕賱兀毓賵丕賲 丕賱囟丕卅毓丞. 禺乇噩鬲 賰賱賲丕鬲賴丕 亘賯賵丞 賵丨賷賵賷丞. 賱賲 鬲鬲丨丿孬 胤賵賷賱丕 賲毓 兀丨丿 賲賳 賯亘賱 亘賴匕賴 丕賱胤乇賷賯丞 ."



丨賷丕鬲賳丕 賮賷 鬲睾賷賷乇 賲爻鬲賲乇 貙 賲賵賯賮 氐睾賷乇 賲賲賰賳 賷賳賯賱賳丕 賲賳 兀賯氐賶 丿乇噩丕鬲 丕賱爻毓丕丿丞 賱兀賯氐賶 丿乇噩丕鬲 丕賱丨夭賳 賵丕賱毓賰爻 氐丨賷丨 . 賮賷 鬲乇丕賰賲丕鬲 賵馗乇賵賮 賯丕丿乇丞 鬲睾賷乇賳丕 賵鬲睾賷乇 賳賮爻賷鬲賳丕 賵丨賷丕鬲賳丕 賵鬲兀孬乇 毓賱賶 賯乇丕乇鬲賳丕 賵鬲毓丕賲賱賳丕 賲毓 丕賱賳丕爻 丨賵丕賱賷賳丕 . 賵賱賰賱 賵丕丨丿 賮賷賳丕 丿乇噩丞 丕丨鬲賲丕賱 賱賱囟睾賵胤 賵亘鬲禺鬲賱賮 賲賳 卮禺氐 賱丌禺乇 賵 亘毓丿賴丕 亘賷鬲丨賵賱 丕賳爻丕賳 鬲丕賳賶 貙 賱卮禺氐 賴賵 賳賮爻賴 賲亘賷毓乇賮卮 賵賯鬲賴丕 賴賵 賲賷賳! 賵亘賷賰賵賳 睾氐亘 毓賳賴 .

賰賲丕 兀賳 丕賱賮賯乇 賵丕賱丨乇賲丕賳 賲賳 兀亘爻胤 丕賱丕丨鬲賷丕噩丕鬲 賷丐孬乇 賰孬賷乇丕 毓賱賶 胤亘賷毓丞 丕賱廿賳爻丕賳 賵丨賷丕鬲賴 禺丕氐丞 丨賷賳 賷賳鬲賯賱 丕賱丕賳爻丕賳 賲賳 丨丕賱 噩賷丿 丕賱賶 丨丕賱 爻卅 丿賵賳 賯丿乇丞 賲賳賴 毓賱賶 鬲睾賷賷乇 丕賱兀賲賵乇 . 賵賱兀爻亘丕亘 禺丕乇噩賴 毓賳 廿乇丕丿鬲賴 賵賷賲賱丌賴 卮毓賵乇 亘丕賱睾囟亘 .

孬賲丞 丿乇噩丞 胤亘賷毓賷丞 賲賳 丕賱囟睾胤 賷賲賰賳 賱丕賶 賲丕丿丞 兀賳 鬲鬲丨賲賱賴丕. 賱丿賶 丕賱賲丕亍 丿乇噩丞 賷睾賱賷 毓賳丿賴丕貙 賵賱賱賲毓丕丿賳 丿乇噩丞 鬲賳氐賴乇 賮賷賴丕貙 賰匕賱賰 賴賵 丕賱丕賲乇 賲毓 毓賳丕氐乇 丕賱乇賵丨. 賷賲賰賳 兀賳 鬲氐賱 丕賱爻毓丕丿丞 廿賱賶 丿乇噩丞 毓馗賷賲丞 賱丕 賷賲賰賳 亘毓丿賴丕 丕賱卮毓賵乇 亘兀賷 賳賵毓 丌禺乇 賲賳 丕賱爻毓丕丿丞. 賵賰匕賱賰 賱丕賷禺鬲賱賮 丕賱兀賲乇 賲毓 丕賱兀賱賲貙 丕賱賷兀爻 貙 丕賱廿匕賱丕賱貙 丕賱鬲賯夭夭 貙 賵丕賱禺賵賮.賲丕 廿賳 賷賲鬲賱卅 丕賱廿賳丕亍 丨鬲賶 賱丕 賷毓賵丿 亘廿賲賰丕賳 兀丨丿 兀賳 賷囟賷賮 廿賱賷賴 卮賷卅丕.



賵亘乇睾賲 丕賳 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 睾賷乇 賲賰鬲賲賱丞 賵丕賳鬲賴鬲 毓賳丿 丨丿 賮丕氐賱 賵賴丕賲 廿賱丕 丕賳賳丕 賷賲賰賳 丕賳 賳毓鬲亘乇賴丕 賳賴丕賷丞 賲賮鬲賵丨丞 貙 賵乇睾賲 丕賳 夭賮丕賷噩 賱賲 賷賳賴賷賴丕 廿賱丕 丕賳賶 兀毓鬲賯丿 丕賳賴 丕毓胤丕賳丕 禺賷賵胤 丕賱賳賴丕賷丞 貙 賳毓賲 賳賵毓丕 賲丕 賷賲賰賳賳賶 乇丐賷丞 丕鬲噩丕賴丕鬲賴賲 貙 丕乇賶 賰乇賷爻鬲賷賳 賵賮乇丿賷賳丕賳丿 賷賯賵賲賵賳 亘鬲賳賮賷匕 禺胤鬲賴賲 貙 賵丕賱氐賮丨丞 丕賱丕禺賷乇丞 丕賷囟丕 乇亘賲丕 丕毓胤鬲賳賶 賳馗乇丞 賱賲丕 賷賲賰賳 丕賳 賷丨丿孬 賲毓賴賲 賮賷 丕賱賲爻鬲賯亘賱 . 乇亘賲丕 賷賰賵賳 賲丕鬲禺賷賱鬲賴 賳賮爻 禺賷丕賱 夭賮丕賷噩 賵乇亘賲丕 賱丕 貙 賱丕賷賴賲 匕賱賰 賱賰賳 賰丕賳 丕賱兀賴賲 亘丕賱賳爻亘丞 賱賷 丕賳賶 鬲賵賯毓鬲 丕賳賶 爻兀卮毓乇 亘丕賱睾囟亘 毓賳丿 丕賱賵氐賵賱 賱賳賴丕賷丞 賲賮鬲賵丨丞 賱賰賳 賱賲 丕卮毓乇 亘匕賱賰 乇睾賲 丕賳賶 丕賰乇賴 丕賱賳賴丕賷丕鬲 丕賱賲賮鬲賵丨丞 賲賳 丕賱兀爻丕爻.
' 胤賵丕賱 丕賱賵賯鬲 賰賳鬲 睾丕卅亘丞 貙 賰賳鬲 兀賳爻丨亘. 乇亘賲丕 賲丕 爻賳賮毓賱賴 睾賷乇 賲噩丿 賵賱賷爻 賱賴 賲毓賳賶. 賵賱賰賳 毓丿賲 賮毓賱賴 賵丕賱丕爻鬲賲乇丕乇 亘賴匕賴 丕賱胤乇賷賯丞 兀賰孬乇 毓亘孬賷丞. "



賱匕丕 卮賰乇丕 夭賮丕賷噩 賮乇睾賲 丕賳賰 丕禺鬲乇鬲 丕賳 鬲賮丕乇賯 丕賱丨賷丕丞 賯亘賱 丕賳賴丕亍 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賵乇亘賲丕 丨乇賲鬲賳丕 賲賳 賰鬲丕亘丕鬲 兀禺乇賶 兀噩賲賱 賱賰賳賰 鬲乇賰鬲 賱賳丕 賰鬲丕亘丕鬲賰 丕賱鬲賶 兀賰賳 賱賴丕 丕賱廿毓噩丕亘.

佗侑 / 佗 / 佗贍佗佗
Profile Image for Mary.
461 reviews922 followers
March 3, 2016
With some things in life, you can鈥檛 go back once you鈥檝e crossed a line. For me it was travel. Once my teenage self left my home country for the first time I was hooked, and I never looked at anything in the same way again. To go back to a life without traveling was unthinkable. With the post-office girl, it鈥檚 a brief foray into the world of the elite, a glimpse into what life is like on the other side. When circumstances force you back to your prosaic life, the bitterness that seeps into your blood is poison and you wonder if maybe you were better off staying ignorant. The post-office girl can鈥檛 cope and only when a seemingly likeminded disgruntled soul crosses her path do we think that maybe there might be some kind of redemption.

The two parts of this novel seem a little disconnected and almost feel like two partial ideas for two different novels. I didn鈥檛 care. I loved it. And then it all ends on a cliffhanger, which should be expected for an unfinished work, and I鈥檓 not sure it鈥檚 entirely unsatisfying because I finished this about 12 hours ago and am still thinking about it. Do they do it, or don鈥檛 they? Does it matter? Maybe we take both forks in the road. Maybe we take neither. Maybe all these plans were in our head all along and we鈥檙e still toiling away behind our desk at the job we hate in the town we hate and it was all a fantasy.

Zweig has yet to steer me wrong and this might be my favorite of his works so far. So deeply, deeply sad.

And suddenly you鈥檙e old and faded and you die and you don鈥檛 know anything and you never lived and you never knew anything.
Profile Image for 尝耻铆蝉.
2,278 reviews1,179 followers
April 20, 2025
A very dark and desperate novel, The Post-Office Girl, surprised me from Stefan Zweig because I did not expect to find him so sharp and vehement on the register of the denunciation of social inequalities. Is it because this latest novel, the second part of which has been worked on in recent years, mirrors the state of a man who has lost everything, from his place in the world to his illusions?
Because the world of Zweig, his "world of yesterday," in any case as he called his autobiography, is instead the one that the gray and poor Christine discovers when she is torn away for a short time by her aunt from her miserable life in post-war Austria: a world of wealth, beauty, carelessness, and well-being, a world reserved for an elite of which they do not understand at the moment that they will never part. To have tasted it avidly, to have identified with it and believed authorized to claim it as one of them, will only make the return to its sad universe all the more bitter. Made aware of the unsurpassable nature of her social condition by Ferdinand, a young man broken in his ambitions, Christine will ruminate on her despair until the identification of a way out is necessarily extreme.
Enraged, amoral, and definitive, this twilight tale of the great Zweig is all the more captivating as it is today in the news of an increasingly polarized world.
Profile Image for Cheryl.
509 reviews775 followers
March 5, 2017
She feels borne along, carried by the wind. She was a child the last time she flew like this. This is the beginning of the delirium of transformation.

To live again, after experiencing the brutality of war. To lose one's parent, one's home, one's trajectory; to feel mentally crippled after war has stripped one of everything one thought she was or could become, everything one thought about life. To see life anew, after being given a chance. To hope. To dream. To try and be 'normal' again: never afraid of humans and their motives, never afraid that somehow death's grip will find you ("survivor's guilt"), never afraid of the nightmares that follow sleep. To feel like an ordinary person with ordinary dreams that are possible. To feel like one is accepted at the table spread for many, that one can achieve with hard work and determination. And then to watch it all fade away as humans show you once more, how despicable humanity can be.

Christine, The Post-Office Girl, works in solitude each day at a routine job that brings her gloom, even though she knows that for a woman living in a village where there are few jobs available after the war, hers is a coveted position. One day she is given a second chance at life when her rich aunt calls her to Pontresina for vacation. She is stunned by the lavish hotels and rich men and women in their twenties who think she carries her aunt's well-received last name. She is treated like royalty, her wardrobe and dinner conversation transformed.


She thinks she is this transformed individual of luxury, until her new friends learn she's really from the village. Her life is again torn to shreds and for a war survivor, this can be disconcerting. She meets another survivor, a war veteran. He too had dreams, he too was intelligent, an aspiring architect, but those years of war took pieces away from his life and when he returns, an injured veteran, he finds that others have his coveted position and that no one is willing to give him a chance. These two hopeless beings become tangled in thought, for even without love, they share trust.


Why breathe this in day after day, knowing that there's another world out there somewhere, the real one, and in herself another person, who is suffocating, being poisoned, in this miasma鈥uddenly she hates everyone and everything, herself and everyone else, wealth and property, everything about this hard, unendurable, incomprehensible life.


Zweig is ruthless in his reveal of transformation and as usual, his psychological depictions are stunning because of his way with words. He forces the reader to examine the undertones of war. He knows how to turn introspection into imagery, bringing a reader so close to a character's inner thoughts that one feels the words breathe. I may not understand Christine's decision at the end, but I certainly understand her. Those tortured feelings from war are ones one never can seem to get rid of, and no one except one who has experienced them, can understand. Zweig wrote this when he was forced into exile by the Nazis, and one can sense his despair on each page. Christine's meandering thought and the wander from first-person to third-person perspective may be at times jolting and confusing for the restless reader, but a closer read reveals a method to the madness. I was afraid to read this novel after reading Zweig's novellas; since he is the king of the fictional short form, I wondered if he would conquer this long form (I excluded his nonfiction as I pondered this). But I'm now learning that for me, reading Zweig is like reading Baldwin - those two just seem to rub me in all the right places.
Profile Image for Josh.
363 reviews247 followers
February 9, 2017
I'm a sensitive man, there's no denying that. Only one person sees me this way and it's rare that anyone else has in the past. There was a part in this story, just a few pages, that made me weep inconsolably on the inside. Some books grip me, make me react in a negative way, putting me in a psychological state of melancholia and grief, but it's rare that I feel as if I'm inside the character's head as he/she is speaking to me. The author and I have the same idea about a specific thing and it tore me apart as I was reading it. The fact that it came true later on is what really did it to me.

Am I vague? Perhaps, but that's another story for another time.

"I think it better to conclude in good time and in erect bearing a life in which intellectual labour meant the purest joy and personal freedom the highest good on Earth." - Stefan Zweig
Profile Image for AiK.
726 reviews256 followers
September 4, 2023
笑胁械泄谐 薪械 蟹邪泻芯薪褔懈谢 褝褌芯褌 褉芯屑邪薪, 褏芯褌褟 薪邪褔邪谢 锌懈褋邪褌褜 械谐芯 蟹邪写芯谢谐芯 写芯 械谐芯 褋屑械褉褌懈. 效褌芯-褌芯 薪械 褋褏芯写懈谢芯褋褜, 薪械 写邪胁邪谢芯 蟹邪胁械褉褕懈褌褜. 袧械褋屑芯褌褉褟 薪邪 薪邪谢懈褔懈械 谢褞斜芯胁薪芯泄 谢懈薪懈懈 褋 薪邪屑械泻芯屑 薪邪 胁芯蟹屑芯卸薪褍褞 泻褉懈屑懈薪邪谢褜薪褍褞 褉邪蟹胁褟蟹泻褍 褋 芯谐褉邪斜谢械薪懈械屑 锌芯褔褌褘 袣褉懈褋褌懈薪芯泄 鈥� 褉芯屑邪薪 蟹邪胁械褉褕邪械褌褋褟 械械 褋芯谐谢邪褋懈械屑 薪邪 锌谢邪薪, 褉邪蟹褉邪斜芯褌邪薪薪褘泄 肖械褉写懈薪邪薪写芯屑, 褝褌芯褌 褉芯屑邪薪 褟胁谢褟械褌褋褟 胁 锌械褉胁褍褞 芯褔械褉械写褜 邪薪褌懈胁芯械薪薪褘屑, 芯斜芯蟹薪邪褔邪褞褖懈屑 芯褌写邪谢械薪薪褘械 锌芯褋谢械写褋褌胁懈褟 胁芯泄薪褘 写谢褟 卸懈褌械谢械泄 锌芯斜械卸写械薪薪芯泄 褋褌褉邪薪褘, 褌械褏 锌芯褌械褉褟薪薪褘褏 谢械褌.
芦袣芯谐写邪 芯褌薪褟谢懈 褕械褋褌褜 谢械褌 卸懈蟹薪懈, 肖褉邪薪褑, 褕械褋褌褜 谢褍褔褕懈褏 谢械褌 鈥� 褋 写械胁褟褌薪邪写褑邪褌懈 写芯 写胁邪写褑邪褌懈 锌褟褌懈 鈥� 胁褘褉械蟹邪谢懈 懈蟹 卸懈胁芯谐芯 褌械谢邪, 褌芯 褋褌邪薪芯胁懈褕褜褋褟 胁褉芯写械 泻邪谢械泻懈, 写邪卸械 械褋谢懈, 泻邪泻 褌褘 谐芯胁芯褉懈褕褜, 褍写邪谢芯褋褜 斜谢邪谐芯锌芯谢褍褔薪芯 胁械褉薪褍褌褜褋褟 写芯屑芯泄. 袟薪邪薪懈泄 褍 屑械薪褟 薪械 斜芯谢褜褕械, 褔械屑 褍 谢褞斜芯谐芯 褞薪芯谐芯 褉械屑械褋谢械薪薪懈泻邪 懈谢懈 斜械褋锌褍褌薪芯谐芯 谐懈屑薪邪蟹懈褋褌邪, 鈥� 褋 褌邪泻懈屑懈 蟹薪邪薪懈褟屑懈 褟 薪邪薪懈屑邪褞褋褜 薪邪 褉邪斜芯褌褍, 邪 胁褘谐谢褟卸褍 薪邪 胁褋械 褋芯褉芯泻. 袧械褌, 胁 锌谢芯褏懈械 胁褉械屑械薪邪 屑褘 褉芯写懈谢懈褋褜 薪邪 褋胁械褌, 懈 薪懈泻邪泻芯泄 胁褉邪褔 褌褍褌 薪械 锌芯屑芯卸械褌, 褕械褋褌褜 谢械褌 屑芯谢芯写芯褋褌懈, 胁褘褉胁邪薪薪褘褏 卸懈胁褜械屑, 鈥� 泻褌芯 懈褏 胁芯蟹屑械褋褌懈褌? 袚芯褋褍写邪褉褋褌胁芯? 协褌邪 褕邪泄泻邪 胁芯褉芯胁 懈 锌芯写谢械褑芯胁? 袧邪蟹芯胁懈 褏芯褌褜 芯写薪芯 褋褉械写懈 胁邪褕懈褏 褋芯褉芯泻邪 屑懈薪懈褋褌械褉褋褌胁 鈥� 褞褋褌懈褑懈懈, 褋芯褑懈邪谢褜薪芯谐芯 芯斜械褋锌械褔械薪懈褟, 谢褞斜芯械 懈蟹 胁械写芯屑褋褌胁 屑懈褉薪褘褏 懈 胁芯械薪薪褘褏 写械谢, 泻芯褌芯褉芯械 斜褘谢芯 斜褘 蟹邪 褋锌褉邪胁械写谢懈胁芯褋褌褜. 小薪邪褔邪谢邪 芯薪懈 锌芯谐薪邪谢懈 薪邪褋 锌芯写 屑邪褉褕 袪邪写械褑泻芯谐芯 懈 芦袘芯卸械 褏褉邪薪懈禄, 邪 褌械锌械褉褜 褌褉褍斜褟褌 褋芯胁褋械屑 写褉褍谐芯械.禄
袧邪 胁芯泄薪械 胁芯褞褞褌 屑芯谢芯写褘械, 懈 懈屑械薪薪芯 芯薪懈 褌械褉褟褞褌 械褋谢懈 薪械 卸懈蟹薪懈, 褌芯 谐芯写褘, 谢褍褔褕懈械 谐芯写褘, 泻芯褌芯褉褘械 屑芯谐谢懈 斜褘 斜褘褌褜 锌芯褌褉邪褔械薪褘 薪邪 褍褔械斜褍, 褌胁芯褉褔械褋褌胁芯, 谢褞斜芯胁褜 懈 褋芯蟹写邪薪懈械 褋械屑械泄. 笑胁械泄谐 薪械 褋褔懈褌邪械褌, 褔褌芯 褌芯谢褜泻芯 胁芯械胁邪胁褕懈械 屑褍卸褔懈薪褘 褌械褉褟褞褌 褋胁芯懈 谐芯写褘 薪邪 胁芯泄薪械. 袚谢邪胁薪邪褟 谐械褉芯懈薪褟 褉芯屑邪薪邪 袣褉懈褋褌懈薪邪 褌芯卸械 锌芯褌械褉褟谢邪 谢褍褔褕懈械 谐芯写褘, 锌芯褋泻芯谢褜泻褍 写芯 胁芯泄薪褘 械械 褋械屑褜褟 卸懈谢邪 褏芯褉芯褕芯, 邪 褉邪蟹芯褉械薪薪邪褟 胁芯泄薪芯泄, 褋泻邪褌懈谢邪褋褜 写芯 褍褉芯胁薪褟 薪懈褖械褌褘, 泻芯谐写邪 胁褋械 芦褋谢懈褕泻芯屑 写芯褉芯谐芯禄, 泻芯谐写邪 写芯褉芯谐芯 写邪卸械 锌芯褏芯褉芯薪懈褌褜 屑邪褌褜 锌芯 写芯褋褌芯懈薪褋褌胁褍, 邪 写芯褔褜 懈 薪械胁械褋褌泻邪 写械谢褟褌 械械 褋薪芯褕械薪薪褍褞 芯斜褍胁褜 懈 锌芯褋褌械谢褜薪芯械 斜械谢褜械.
袪芯屑邪薪 屑芯卸薪芯 褍褋谢芯胁薪芯 锌芯写械谢懈褌褜 薪邪 写胁械 褔邪褋褌懈. 袩械褉胁邪褟 褔邪褋褌褜, 薪邪 屑芯泄 胁蟹谐谢褟写, 懈蟹谢懈褕薪械 褉邪褋褌褟薪褍褌邪褟 懈 胁芯褋褏胁邪谢褟褞褖邪褟 谐械写芯薪懈蟹屑 胁 械谐芯 胁褘褋褕械屑 锌褉芯褟胁谢械薪懈懈, 锌芯泻邪蟹褘胁邪械褌, 泻邪泻 袣褉懈褋褌懈薪邪, 胁芯谢械褞 芦写芯斜褉芯泄禄 褎械懈 褌械褌懈 袣谢褝褉, 胁褘褕械写褕械泄 蟹邪屑褍卸 蟹邪 褋芯褋褌芯褟褌械谢褜薪芯谐芯 邪屑械褉懈泻邪薪褑邪 懈 胁 泻邪褔械褋褌胁械 斜谢邪谐芯褌胁芯褉懈褌械谢褜薪芯褋褌懈 锌褉懈谐谢邪褋懈胁褕械泄 薪懈褖褍褞 锌谢械屑褟薪薪懈褑褍, 锌褉芯胁芯写懈褌 芯泻芯谢芯 薪械写械谢懈 芯褌锌褍褋泻邪 胁 褎械褕械薪械斜械谢褜薪芯屑 谐芯褉薪芯屑 泻褍褉芯褉褌械 协薪谐邪写懈薪械, 谐写械 胁褋械 胁芯褋褏懈褌懈褌械谢褜薪芯 谢械谐泻芯 懈 锌褉芯斜谢械屑 薪械 褋褍褖械褋褌胁褍械褌, 谐写械 斜谢械褋褌褟褖械械 芯斜褖械褋褌胁芯 褋芯褉械胁薪褍械褌褋褟 胁 褔芯锌芯褉薪芯褋褌懈, 褍屑械薪懈懈 褋胁械褌褋泻懈褏 泻芯谢泻芯褋褌械泄 懈 褋锌谢械褌械薪, 褋锌芯褋芯斜薪褘褏 褍薪懈褔褌芯卸懈褌褜 谢褞斜芯谐芯, 薪械 褋芯芯褌胁械褌褋褌胁褍褞褖械谐芯 械谐芯 胁褘褋芯泻懈屑 泻褉懈褌械褉懈褟屑. 孝邪屑 械泄 褍写邪械褌褋褟 芯斜屑邪薪褍褌褜 胁褋械褏 懈 褋械斜褟, 薪芯 褌芯谢褜泻芯 锌芯褋谢械 褋褉邪胁薪械薪懈褟 褋 协薪谐邪写懈薪芯屑 芯薪邪 锌芯薪懈屑邪械褌 芯写薪褍 锌褉芯褋褌褍褞 胁械褖褜: 芦薪邪屑 懈褋泻芯褉械卸懈谢懈 卸懈蟹薪褜禄. 袩芯褋谢械 褌芯谐芯, 泻邪泻 械械 斜褍泻胁邪谢褜薪芯 胁褘谐薪邪谢懈, 芯薪邪 屑褍褔懈谢邪褋褜 薪械胁褘褋泻邪蟹邪薪薪褘屑懈 胁芯锌褉芯褋邪屑懈, 泻芯褌芯褉褘械 薪懈泻邪泻 薪械 屑芯谐谢邪 褋褎芯褉屑褍谢懈褉芯胁邪褌褜 写谢褟 褋械斜褟.
芦小芯胁械褉褕械薪薪芯 褟褋薪芯 胁褘褉邪蟹懈谢 褌芯, 褔褌芯 芯薪邪 谢懈褕褜 褋屑褍褌薪芯 褔褍胁褋褌胁芯胁邪谢邪: 薪懈褔械谐芯 褔褍卸芯谐芯 屑薪械 薪械 薪邪写芯, 薪芯 懈 褍 屑械薪褟 械褋褌褜 锌褉邪胁芯 薪邪 褋胁芯褞 写芯谢褞 褋褔邪褋褌褜褟, 锌芯褔械屑褍 褟 胁褋械谐写邪 写芯谢卸薪邪 锌褉芯蟹褟斜邪褌褜 胁 谐芯谢芯写械 懈 褏芯谢芯写械, 泻芯谐写邪 写褉褍谐懈械 褋褘褌褘 懈 胁 褌械锌谢械?禄
袘械写薪芯褋褌褜, 懈 薪械 锌褉芯褋褌芯 斜械写薪芯褋褌褜, 邪 锌芯褋谢械胁芯械薪薪邪褟 斜械写薪芯褋褌褜, 泻芯谐写邪 谢褞写懈 蟹薪邪谢懈 写芯褋褌芯泄薪褍褞 卸懈蟹薪褜, 邪 锌芯褌芯屑 胁芯泄薪邪 胁褋械 褉邪蟹褉褍褕懈谢邪 鈥� 胁芯褌 锌褉械写屑械褌 懈薪褌械褉械褋邪 笑胁械泄谐邪. 袠屑械薪薪芯 褝褌芯 胁褘蟹褘胁邪械褌 斜褍薪褌 懈 胁薪褍褌褉械薪薪懈泄 锌褉芯褌械褋褌 谐械褉芯械胁, 懈屑械薪薪芯 胁 褝褌芯屑 蟹邪泻谢褞褔邪械褌褋褟 锌谢邪薪 肖械褉写懈薪邪薪写邪 胁 芯谐褉邪斜谢械薪懈懈 锌芯褔褌邪屑褌邪. 袝屑褍 薪械 薪褍卸薪芯 谢懈褕薪械谐芯, 芯薪 谢懈褕褜 褏芯褔械褌 锌芯谢褍褔懈褌褜 芯褌 谐芯褋褍写邪褉褋褌胁邪 褌芯, 褔褌芯 褍 薪械谐芯 芯褌薪褟谢懈. 袣芯薪械褔薪芯, 褝褌芯 薪械褉邪胁薪邪褟 斜芯褉褜斜邪, 蟹邪胁械写芯屑芯 芯斜褉械褔械薪薪邪褟 薪邪 锌褉芯胁邪谢 懈 胁芯芯斜褖械, 薪械锌褉邪胁懈谢褜薪邪褟 懈写械褟. 肖械褉写懈薪邪薪写 薪械 褏芯褔械褌 斜芯褉芯褌褜褋褟 蟹邪 锌褉邪胁邪 胁褋械褏 芯斜械蟹写芯谢械薪薪褘褏, 芯薪 薪械 褋褔懈褌邪械褌 褋械斜褟 薪懈 泻芯屑屑褍薪懈褋褌芯屑, 薪懈 泻邪锌懈褌邪谢懈褋褌芯屑. 协褌芯 械谐芯 写褉褍谐 肖褉邪薪褑 胁 锌谢械薪褍 胁 小懈斜懈褉懈 斜褘谢 芯写械褉卸懈屑 懈写械褟屑懈 屑懈褉芯胁芯泄 褉械胁芯谢褞褑懈懈. 袨薪 褏芯褔械褌 褋褔邪褋褌褜褟 褌芯谢褜泻芯 写谢褟 褋械斜褟.
袚械褉芯懈 薪械 褟胁谢褟褞褌褋褟 褋谢懈褕泻芯屑 锌芯谢芯卸懈褌械谢褜薪褘屑懈 懈谢懈 褋谢懈褕泻芯屑 芯褌褉懈褑邪褌械谢褜薪褘屑懈, 懈 胁 褝褌芯屑 锌褉芯褟胁谢褟械褌褋褟 屑邪褋褌械褉褋褌胁芯 笑胁械泄谐邪 胁 褋芯蟹写邪薪懈懈 褋谢芯卸薪褘褏, 锌芯谢薪褘褏 锌褉芯褌懈胁芯褉械褔懈泄 懈 胁薪褍褌褉械薪薪懈褏 泻芯薪褎谢懈泻褌芯胁, 泻芯屑锌谢械泻褋芯胁 懈 卸邪卸写褘 薪芯褉屑邪谢褜薪芯泄 卸懈蟹薪懈 锌芯褉褌褉械褌芯胁. 袠 袣褉懈褋褌懈薪邪, 懈 肖械褉写懈薪邪薪写, 胁 锌械褉胁褍褞 芯褔械褉械写褜, 懈薪写懈胁懈写褍邪谢懈褋褌褘, 懈 谐写械-褌芯 写邪卸械 褝谐芯懈褋褌褘. 袧邪锌褉懈屑械褉, 袣褉懈褋褌懈薪邪, 芯褕械谢芯屑谢械薪薪邪褟 锌邪写械薪懈械屑 褋 胁褘褋芯褌 蟹芯谢褍褕泻懈薪褘褏 斜邪谢芯胁, 褋芯胁械褉褕械薪薪芯 褔械褉褋褌胁芯 褉械邪谐懈褉褍械褌 薪邪 褋屑械褉褌褜 屑邪褌械褉懈, 薪械 锌褉芯谢懈胁 薪懈 褋谢械蟹懈薪泻懈. 袛邪, 芯薪邪 芯褌褗褟胁谢械薪薪邪褟 褝谐芯懈褋褌泻邪, 卸械谢邪褞褖邪褟 薪械屑械写谢械薪薪芯谐芯 褋褔邪褋褌褜褟 懈 懈蟹芯斜懈谢懈褟. 袧芯 懈 泻邪泻 泻 胁褋褟泻芯泄 蟹芯谢褍褕泻械, 泻 薪械泄 懈褋锌褘褌褘胁邪械褕褜 褋芯褔褍胁褋褌胁懈械. 袨薪邪 芯褌褌邪懈胁邪械褌 谢懈褕褜 胁 芯斜褗褟褌懈褟褏 肖械褉写懈薪邪薪写邪, 懈 锌芯薪懈屑邪械褌, 褔褌芯 械褋褌褜 械褖械 褑械薪薪芯褋褌褜 谢褞斜胁懈, 泻芯褌芯褉邪褟 胁锌芯谢薪械 屑芯卸械褌 胁 械械 芯写薪芯斜芯泻芯泄 褋懈褋褌械屑械 褑械薪薪芯褋褌械泄 蟹邪屑械薪懈褌褜 薪邪褉褟写褘 懈 褌邪薪褑褘, 芯 泻芯褌芯褉褘褏 芯薪邪 薪邪泻芯薪械褑 蟹邪斜褘胁邪械褌. 袧芯 锌褉芯泻谢褟褌邪褟 斜械写薪芯褋褌褜 薪械 写邪械褌 薪邪褋谢邪写懈褌褜褋褟 懈屑 谢褞斜芯胁褜褞, 胁褋械 懈褏 写械薪褜谐懈 褍褏芯写褟褌 薪邪 懈褏 胁褋褌褉械褔懈 鈥� 斜懈谢械褌褘 薪邪 锌芯械蟹写, 械写邪 胁 泻邪褎械, 邪 写械褕械胁褘械 薪芯屑械褉邪 胁 锌褉芯锌邪褏褕懈褏 锌芯褏芯褌褜褞 谐芯褋褌懈薪懈褑邪褏, 谐写械 褋胁械褉褏褍, 褋薪懈蟹褍, 褋 斜芯泻芯胁 褉邪蟹写邪褞褌褋褟 蟹胁褍泻懈 锌褉芯写邪卸薪芯泄 谢褞斜胁懈 芯斜褋谢褍卸懈胁邪褞褖懈褏 褋胁芯懈褏 泻谢懈械薪褌芯胁 锌褉芯褋褌懈褌褍褌芯泻, 胁褘蟹褘胁邪械褌 褔褍胁褋褌胁芯 芯褌胁褉邪褖械薪懈褟 懈 褋褌褉邪褏邪 锌芯谢懈褑械泄褋泻芯谐芯 锌褉芯懈蟹胁芯谢邪. 肖械褉写懈薪邪薪写 褌芯卸械 褝谐芯懈褋褌 鈥� 械谐芯 锌谢邪薪 芯斜芯谐邪褖械薪懈褟 锌褉械写褍褋屑邪褌褉懈胁邪械褌 锌械褉械谢芯卸械薪懈械 胁褋械泄 谐褉褟蟹薪芯泄 褉邪斜芯褌褘 懈 胁褋械谐芯 褉懈褋泻邪 薪邪 锌谢械褔懈 袣褉懈褋褌懈薪褘. 袨薪懈 芯斜邪 褋谢邪斜褘, 锌褉械写锌芯褔懈褌邪褟 谢械谐泻褍褞 褋屑械褉褌褜, 褔械屑 斜芯褉芯褌褜褋褟 蟹邪 褋胁芯械 屑械褋褌芯 锌芯写 褋芯谢薪褑械屑. 肖褉邪薪褑 褌芯卸械 胁械褉薪褍谢褋褟 褋 胁芯泄薪褘, 锌褍褋褌褜 懈 薪邪 写胁邪 谐芯写邪 褉邪薪褜褕械 肖械褉写懈薪邪薪写邪. 袨薪 褌芯卸械 薪懈褖械薪褋褌胁芯胁邪谢, 邪 械谐芯 卸械薪邪 袧械谢谢懈 褌芯褉谐芯胁邪谢邪褋褜 蟹邪 芯斜薪芯褋泻懈 褍屑械褉褕械泄 屑邪褌械褉懈 褋芯 褋薪芯褏芯泄. 袧芯 褍 薪械谐芯 斜褉械蟹卸懈褌 锌芯谢褍褔械薪懈械 薪芯胁芯泄 写芯谢卸薪芯褋褌懈, 懈 锌芯胁褘褕械薪懈械 斜谢邪谐芯褋芯褋褌芯褟薪懈褟 薪械 蟹邪 谐芯褉邪屑懈. 袨薪 薪械 谐芯薪懈褌褋褟 蟹邪 薪械屑械写谢械薪薪褘屑 褋褔邪褋褌褜械屑, 邪 锌芯褌懈褏芯薪褜泻褍 械谐芯 褋褌褉芯懈褌 (泻褋褌邪褌懈, 斜褍写褍褔懈 褌邪泻卸械 褔邪褋褌褜褞 谐芯褋褍写邪褉褋褌胁械薪薪芯泄 屑邪褕懈薪褘, 褔懈薪芯胁薪懈泻芯屑).
Profile Image for Anne .
458 reviews437 followers
January 9, 2021
The Post Office Girl is a story about a poor, young postal worker, Christine, who gets the chance of a lifetime to have a very brief, but wonderfully transforming vacation from her poverty-stricken life. She is allowed to taste luxury and all that money can buy in a world of wealth and happiness she has never known. This story takes place in Austria after WW1 and is an indictment against Austrian society, or society in general, and the way it allowed the soldiers of WW1 and their families to flounder in poverty after the war. This book also looks at character and identity and how they can change with changing circumstances.

My only quibble with this novel is the introduction, in the second half of the story, of a new character, Ferdinand. He takes up too much space with all his ranting against society which became tedious at times. Worse, he takes the focus off of Christine. Nevertheless, this is an extremely well-written page turner, exciting and depressing in turn, with an excellent plot and terrific characters.
Profile Image for Enrique.
550 reviews322 followers
November 12, 2024
Tras asentarse dos semanas le he bajado una estrella, 3鈽� me parece m谩s justo. Se lo recomend茅 a mi pareja para que me diera una opini贸n imparcial, y ella me ha confirmado lo que tem铆a, que el final no vale nada (una serie de volantazos sin sentido). No quer铆a pecar de prejuicios con Zweig, pero al final siempre me cuesta puntuarlo alto.

---鈥�--------------------------

Con esta novela me he reconciliado un poco con Zweig, despu茅s de un par de lecturas que me hicieron dejarlo de lado durante a帽os.

Esta obra p贸stuma de Zweig me ha dado la dimensi贸n real de este autor con el que como digo no terminaba de entenderme.听

Aqu铆 arranca como en cuento de La cenicienta en versi贸n moderna, para ir mutando y transform谩ndose a medida que avanza la narraci贸n. Debo decir tambi茅n que el final me dej贸 un poco fr铆o, me pareci贸 un volantazo de 煤ltima hora.

Los personajes que crea son muy buenos, en especial el.personaje masculino que aparece a 煤ltima hora, pero con gran protagonismo.

"Desde que conozco el significado de una guerra civil, no participar铆a ni aunque sirviera para traer justicia eterna del cielo,porque a cambio te piden que dejes a personas vivas, muertas"

Novela antib茅lica, de las que tanto proliferaci贸n tras la Primera Guerra Mundial, es de la 茅poca de Adi贸s a todo aquello, de Graves, o Sin novedad en el frente (la mejor para m铆).

"A m铆 no me enga帽an m谩s diciendo que otros lo tienen peor, que la "suerte" me acompa帽a porque a煤n tengo juntos los huesos y no debo andar con muletas. A m铆 no me vengan con quw basta respirar y tener algo para alimentarse, que con eso est谩 todo en orden. Ya no creo en nada, no en Dios, ni en el Estado, en nada, mientras no perciba que se ha hecho justicia conmigo, que he adquirido derecho a la vida, dir茅 que me han robado y estafado"

Esta novela p贸stuma de Zweig creo que saca al autor m谩s real, m谩s esc茅ptico. Para que hablar de su final.

"Ya no me interesa, no me importa, ya no soy comunista ni capitalista, me da todo igual, a m铆 solo me preocupa el hombre que soy, y el 煤nico estado al que estoy dispuesto a servir es a mi trabajo. Si la siguiente generaci贸n ser谩 feliz, o comunista o fascista o socialista,听 me importa un r谩bano, solo me interesa reemsamblar mi vida destrozada y llevar a cabo aquello para lo cual nac铆".
Profile Image for Gabrielle (Reading Rampage).
1,152 reviews1,663 followers
January 4, 2021
4 and a half stars.

"The vast power of money, mighty when you have it and mightier when you don't, with its divine gift of freedom and the demonic fury it unleashes on those forced to do without it..."

There is a strange relevance to "The Post Office Girl" (the original title is translated as "The Intoxication of Metamorphose"), a quality to the subject matter and to the sharpness of Zweig's observations that make it feel almost strangely contemporary. It captures the state of mind of an entire generation that feels hopelessly stuck in circumstances completely beyond their control, that generations that came before them created and that they must now endure...

Christine lives in a world that's licking its wounds after a war, but some of the damage done is unfortunately irreversible. Her family's circumstances will never be as prosperous as they once were, her mother's health is ruined and working as a clerk in the tiny town's post office is all that keeps Christine from abject misery. One day, out of the blue, her aunt Clara who married a rich American, sends her a telegram asking her to join them in a luxurious Swiss resort for a few days. Embarrassed by Christine's shabby clothes, aunt Clara dressed her up in her fancy dresses, sends her to the hair salon and suddenly, Christine is no longer the unremarkable little postal clerk she once was, but a glamorous young woman courted by rich men and befriended by the fashionable crowd. But when the truth about her origins is brought to light, she is abruptly rejected and slinks back to her provincial little town, miserable and profoundly alone - as no one from her old life can possibly understand that the taste of the high-life she's had has changed her to her very core.

Ferdinand, whom she meets through her brother-in-law, is as broken as she is, but in different ways: after the war, he was stuck in a Siberian camp for two years, injured on his way back home and is now in the position of being unable to afford to go back to school and unable to work due to his injury. He shares Christine's impotent rage, her frustration and alienation - as no one else seems to understand why they are as dis-satisfied as they are. They even both think that death is the only way out for them. Or at least they do until Ferdinand comes up with an even more desperate plan.

I find Zweig's prose to be simply enchanting: his descriptions have a wonderful sensuality that puts you right behind the character's eyes and gives you an unsettling empathy for their experience. There are watershed moments in one's life that change everything: some experiences mean you will never look at your own life the same way again, and you'll come back from them changed profoundly. And of course, money doesn't buy happiness, but a certain amount of money can go a long way towards getting rid of unhappiness...

The story of the book's composition is almost as interesting as the novella itself: the first part was written when Zweig still lived in Austria, then was put aside for many years, then taken back out after Zweig had to leave his homeland because of the rise of the Nazi regime. And you can tell by the jarring change of tone between the two parts, though the central theme of longing for what can't be, that it was written by someone in a very different frame of mind. The book is not finished, per se: it was put together from the documents found in Zweig's file after his death - which, interestingly, mirrors the pact between Christine and Ferdinand. The first half has a glittering, dream-like quality to it, as where the second half is bleak, gritty and desperate. One can't help but wonder what ending he had in mind for his wannabe Bonnie and Clyde, but knowing how history played out, I bet they were not meant to live happily ever after.

This book might not have been exactly what his author intended it to be, but it is a haunting novella. Profoundly sad and hopeless, and yet beautiful - as only Zweig could write.
Profile Image for Nidhi Singh.
40 reviews163 followers
October 12, 2014
When will it be me? When will it be my turn? What have I been dreaming about during these long empty mornings if not about being free someday from this meaningless grind, this deadly race against time? Relaxing for once, having some unbroken time to myself, not always in shreds, in shards so tiny you could cut your finger on them.


Life can sometimes seem to be arrested in a state of perpetual halt; the waiting for your chance that never ever comes. Not a moment of respite, not a moment without worry. Not a moment that isn鈥檛 barely scraped from the blatant drudgery of routine. No rest, no sleep that doesn鈥檛 fear waking up. Christine鈥檚 life has no joy, no enthusiasm, no happiness. The days are of boredom and monotony, packed up into the office-routine, like used giveaway clothes in a cardboard box. It is the feeling of not having a personal moment of living dedicated just to oneself, to solely being happy. And of being caged forever in this drabness, like being stuck in a compartment with rapidly depleting air. A joyless living, a resignation, still with something sleeping inside that could be scratched back to consciousness.

Meat too expensive, butter too expensive, a pair of shoes, too expensive: Christine hardly dares to breathe for fear it might be too expensive.


War has ruined childhoods, it has destroyed families, it has afflicted people with a nightmarish living. War has killed desire, it has bred ennui and apathy, and worst of all it has bred unrelenting poverty. Zweig frequently describes the characters in this book in terms of their stark possessions. A tattered coat, its threadbare elbows, a cheap dirty shirt, a flat straw suitcase, a ragged umbrella, and one could conjure up a person altogether, could tell their whole stories. Christine鈥檚 mother鈥檚 life could be recounted with the meager possessions she left behind. Such images graze upon the mind; the bareness of existence, its insufficiency.

How could she ever wear such splendid and fragile treasures without constantly worrying? How do you walk, how do you move in such mist of color and light? Don鈥檛 you have to learn how to wear clothes like these?


It is interesting to mark the Cinderella-like transformations in Christine. Pretty clothes, new shoes; they highlight her sketchy outline and fill it with colors of visibility. It is as if she is a tangible person for the first time. Then lifeless and now intoxicated with life, with a new feeling of joy blazing inside. This rare swoon of lying back and being ministered to, this strange voluptuous feeling you haven鈥檛 experienced in years, in decades. The sensuality of this new feeling has been depicted as vividly as taking the first bite of a ripe fruit, as gulping in the freshness of morning air, and running down the path of one鈥檚 own self-discovery. It is the joy of being noticed, appreciated, desired. For the first time. The awareness of one鈥檚 own youth, attractiveness, desirability and desires. That such a phase is so short-lived, yet extremely potent in its possibilities makes Christine鈥檚 downfall extremely painful. The anti-climax seems like a sudden and rude cessation.

But how can I hide, how can I disappear quickly before anyone sees me and takes offense.


There is always the fear of betraying her poverty, her middle-class bearing to the contemptuous gaze of the rich. With such poverty, how hard it is not to be unsure of oneself. For Zweig鈥檚 protagonists, poverty is a great assault to pride because it perpetually denies them their rightful places in the world. It burrows deep holes in their withered lives making them dysfunctional individuals, impervious to genuine love, incapable to love fully. It is amazing how Zweig portrays these fully rounded characters with their continued apathy, their shrunken capacity to love, their lessened ability to live. There is a lack of stability, of dignity, of a personal space. It is an existence that is fractured, sullied and threatened. It keeps running around the same unbreakable circle of regularity and powerlessness. There are some who are hyper aware, some who are doused in sinuous complacence. Some have devised their own strategies of living their reduced lives, some refuse not to see what has been obfuscated, not to want what has been denied. They can鈥檛 be placidly engulfed in an existence that is scanty, at most a concession.

How terrible it is to have to live here, and why, who鈥檚 it for? Why breathe this in day after day, knowing that there鈥檚 another world out there somewhere, the real one, and in herself another person, who is suffocating, being poisoned, in this miasma. Her nerves are jangling. She throws herself down onto the bed fully clothed, biting down hard on the pillow to keep from screaming with helpless hatred. Because suddenly she hates everyone and everything, herself and everyone else, wealth and poverty, everything about this hard, unendurable, incomprehensible life.

Profile Image for Ines.
322 reviews261 followers
August 18, 2019
You will say... is she crazy to have given two stars to Stefan Zweig? Maybe the only or little more on all GR readers with such a low review? I say immediately... Writing is sublime, it takes your mind and your word.... But only that, i had pity especially for Christine鈥檚 heart, she remained anchored in a life without hope and resilience till the end...
That extreme poverty is unimaginable, ... but as the reading went on, everything seemed to be based on one perverse judgment of the other...
On the pretense of nailing appearances into a certainty of the emotional life of others.
No magnanimity or grace of forgiveness is given to the characters or to the surrounding world, this is a life that ultimately kills you inside. A hope to live without desire for happiness to what does it lead?





Direte... Ma 猫 pazza ad aver dato due stelline a Stefan Zweig? Forse l'unica o poco pi霉 su tutto GR con una recensione cos矛 bassa?? Dico subito... La scrittura 猫 sublime, ti rapisce la mente e la parola.... Ma solo quello, perch茅 il mio cuore ha rischiato, ma soprattutto il cuore di Christine, 猫 rimasto ancorato in una vita senza speranza e resilienza....
Verissimo che la povert脿 estrema 猫 inimmaginabile, figuriamoci viverla... Ma man mano che la lettura scorreva, tutto sembrava basato su un giudizio perverso dell' altro...
Sulla pretesa di inchiodare le parvenze in una certezza di vita emotiva degli altri.
Nessuna magnanimit脿 ne grazia del perdono vengono donati ai personaggi n茅 al mondo circostante, questo 猫 un vivere che alla fine ti uccide dentro. Una speranza di vivere senza desiderio di felicit脿 a cosa porta?
Profile Image for 賮丕賷夭 睾丕夭賷 Fayez Ghazi.
Author听2 books4,893 followers
December 9, 2023

"賲賳 丕賳丕 廿匕賳責 胤賷賱丞 爻賳賵丕鬲 賰孬賷乇丞貙 賰丕賳 丕賱賳丕爻 賷賲乇賾賵賳 賲賳 兀賲丕賲賷 賮賷 丕賱卮丕乇毓貙 丿賵賳 兀賳 賷賱賲丨賵丕 賵噩賵丿賷 丨鬲賾賶! 賵賱兀毓賵丕賲 胤賵賷賱丞 賰賳鬲 兀毓賷卮 賮賷 賯乇賷鬲賷 丿賵賳 丕賳 賷賲賳丨賳賷 丕丨丿 卮賷卅賸丕 丕賵 賷賮賰賾乇 賮賷 匕賱賰 丕氐賱賸丕. 賴賱 賷賰賵賳 丕賱賮賯乇 丕賱賲賳賴賰 亘睾卮丕賵鬲賴 丕賱賲睾賱賯丞 賴賵 丕賱爻亘亘責 兀賲 丕賳 賴賳丕賰 卮賷卅賸丕 賲丕 賰丕賳 賲丨鬲噩亘賸丕 賮賷 丿丕禺賱賷 賵賯丿 鬲噩賱賾賶 賮噩兀丞 賱賱賳丕爻責 賴賱 賲賳 丕賱賲毓賯賵賱 兀賳賳賷 兀噩賲賱 賲賲丕 賰賳鬲兀毓鬲賯丿 賵兀賰孬乇 兀賳丕賯丞 賵噩丕匕亘賷丞責 賲賳 兀賳丕責 賲賳 兀賳丕 賮賷 丕賱丨賯賷賯丞責"

丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 丕賱鬲賷 賱賲 賷賰賲賱賴丕 爻鬲賷賮丕賳貙 賵乇亘賲丕 亘廿賳鬲丨丕乇賴 賰鬲亘 賳賴丕賷鬲賴丕!

"丕賱鬲丨賵賾賱" 乇賵丕賷丞 鬲賹馗賴乇 賰賷賮 賷鬲丨賵賾賱 丕賱卮禺氐 廿匕丕 賲丕 鬲睾賷賾乇鬲 丕賱馗乇賵賮 賵丕賱亘賷卅丞貙 賰賷賮 賷賳毓賰爻 匕賱賰 毓賱賶 卮禺氐賷鬲賴 賵鬲氐乇賮丕鬲賴 賵兀禺賱丕賯賴貙 賰賷賮 賷丐孬乇 廿爻賲 毓丕卅賱丞 睾賳賷丞 賲賮鬲乇囟 賱鬲賮鬲丨 丕賱兀亘賵丕亘 丕賲丕賲賰 賵賰賷賮 鬲賵氐丿 匕丕鬲 丕賱兀亘賵丕亘 丕匕丕 賲丕 亘丕賳 夭賷賮 丕賱廿丿毓丕亍貙 賰賷賮 丕賱毓賵丿丞 丕賱賶 丕賱丨賷丕丞 丕賱丨賯賷賯賷丞 賵乇丐賷丞 丕賱賳丕爻 賲賳 兀毓賱賶 賵賲丨丕賵賱丞 鬲賮噩賷乇 丕賱睾囟亘 賮賷賴賲... 丕賱噩賲賷毓 賷鬲丨賵賾賱 賮賷 賴匕丕 丕賱賳氐 賵賱賷爻 賰乇賷爻鬲賷賳 賮賯胤 賮賯丿 丕爻鬲胤丕毓 夭賮丕賷賷睾 丕賳 賷乇爻賲 卮禺氐賷丕鬲 毓丿賷丿丞 賳丕賱鬲 锟斤拷氐賷亘賴丕 賲賳 丕賱鬲丨賵賾賱 賱賷胤乇賯 賲卮丕賰賱 丕賳爻丕賳賷丞 兀賰孬乇: 丕賱賮賯乇-丕賱睾賳賶貙 丕賱乇丕丨丞-丕賱賰丿丨貙 丕賱丨乇亘-丕賱爻賱賲貙 丕賱孬賵乇丞-丕賱亘賷乇賵賯乇丕胤賷丞貙 丕賱賰匕亘-丕賱氐丿賯貙 丕賱鬲囟丨賷丞-丕賱賵氐賵賱賷丞....

"丕賱賲禺賷賱丞 鬲賳卮卅 丿賵賲賸丕 賲丕 賴賵 兀賰孬乇 乇毓亘賸丕 賲賳 丕賱賵丕賯毓貙 賵賲丕 爻賷丨丿孬 賷禺賷賮 丕賱賲乇亍 兀賰孬乇 賲賲丕 丨丿孬 賮毓賱賸丕."

賰賲 賰賳丕 爻賳賰賵賳 賲丨馗賵馗賷賳 賱賵 兀賰賲賱 夭賮丕賷賷睾 賴匕丕 丕賱賳氐貙 賱兀賳 丕賱禺胤丞 賮賷 丕賱氐賮丨丕鬲 丕賱兀禺賷乇丞 鬲賹賳亘兀 丕賱賶 丨丿 賰亘賷乇 亘賵噩賵丿 兀丨丿丕孬 賰孬賷乇丞 亘毓丿賴丕. 賱賰賳 賴匕丕 丕賱賳氐 賷購賯乇兀 丕賰孬乇 賲賳 賲乇丞 賱賱廿爻鬲賲鬲丕毓 亘賯丿乇丞 夭賮丕賷賷噩 毓賱賶 爻亘乇 丕賱賳賮爻 丕賱亘卮乇賷丞 (賵亘廿爻賴丕亘 賮賷 賴匕丕 丕賱賳氐貙 亘毓賰爻 鬲賰孬賷賮丕鬲賴 賮賷 賳氐賵氐賴 丕賱兀禺乇賶).
Profile Image for Anastasia Fitzgerald-Beaumont.
113 reviews715 followers
March 25, 2010
This is a novel for today, an odd thing to say, considering it was written almost seventy years ago. It's a tragic version of the Cinderella story, a version with no glass slipper and no Prince Charming; it's a story of a girl taken to the heights only to be plunged back into the depths.

The author, Stephan Zweig, though not that well known in the English-speaking world, is probably the best late representative of the culture of old Vienna, that urbane, tolerant, sophisticated and brilliant world, swept away forever by the rise of the Nazis.

His oeuvre covered such a wide area of intellectual life: he was a biographer, playwright, journalist, short story writer and novelist. After Hitler came to power Zweig left his native Austria, taking refuge in England, America and finally in Brazil, where he and his second wife committed suicide in 1942 in a mood of despair over a possible German victory in the War. The manuscript of his second novel was found among his papers. Remarkably it was to be forty years after his death it was published in Germany for the first time, under the title Rausch der Verwandlung-The Intoxication of Transformation. In 2008 it was translated and published in English as The Post Office Girl.

Written in a simple, fast-paced and intoxication style, it tells the story of Christine Hoflehner, a woman in her late twenties who manages a small provincial post office in Austria, a country only just emerging from the trauma of the First World War and the economic and social dislocation that followed.

The action begins in 1926, when Christine is twenty-eight years old and living with her elderly mother, whose health has been ruined by her past experiences. The Hoflehners, once a prosperous and middle-class family, have, like so many others of the time, been brought close to ruin by the war and its after-effects. Christine, a poorly paid civil servant, recognises that life is passing her by; that her horizons are always likely to be confining and confined. Even so, there is a kind of resigned acceptance in this destiny. But then a telegram arrives from Clara, her rich American aunt, holidaying with her husband in Switzerland.

As if a fairy-godmother had appeared, Christine is lifted out of the tedium and poverty into a brilliant world, a world full of rich and glamorous people. Dowdy and badly dressed when she arrived at the luxury Swiss hotel where her relatives are staying, she is transformed in dress and appearance by her aunt. Hesitant at first, Christine is drawn into the delights of her surroundings. All at once everything is possible. Losing all inhibition, Christine enjoys the company of new friends, of men who find her beautiful and beguiling, of people whose life and experiences have been so different to her own. She learns to forget. But then the dream ends, abruptly and cruelly. It's midnight; the clock is striking. Discarded by her aunt, she is thrown back into her old world.

It's at this point that the full tragedy of Christine's story is realised. What was tolerable before is now intolerable. Before there was nothing that stood in contrast to the tedium of her daily life; now there is. A gate was opened briefly, only to close forever. New forms of bitterness and despair set in only relieved, to a degree, when she meets Ferdinand, even bitterer than Christine. What follows is a love affair of a kind, limping and unsatisfactory, of two people bound by a mutual sense of rejection.

This is a fairy tale with no happy ending. In fact it might be said to have no ending at all. Remember it's an unfinished book, and the last few pages read almost as if the author is outlining possible future developments. To that degree the conclusion, such as it is, might even said to be abrupt. But there again, this might conceivably have been what Zweig wanted. After all, life is abrupt. No matter; it's one of those books that make a lasting impression, one that will stay with me for a long time to come.
Profile Image for Fionnuala.
863 reviews
Read
January 27, 2015
It's quite a few years sinceI read this but I remember going out immediately afterwards and buying two other books by Zweig.
I think that might serve in lieu of a five star rating.
Profile Image for Patricija || book.duo.
838 reviews603 followers
June 29, 2021
鈥濼u dr膮si, nebijai mirti. Bet drebi, kad pav臈luosi 寞 darb膮.鈥�

5/5

O jums yra buv臋 taip, kad knyg膮 sugadina jos anotacija? Ne netiksli, ne melaginga, ne per daug reklami拧ka, o tiesiog i拧pasakojanti vis膮 siu啪et膮. Na, tik paskutinio siu啪etinio pos奴kio pritr奴ko 鈥� gal jei jau pasakojam visk膮, tai ir t膮 寞terpti reik臈jo? Jei tai b奴t懦 bet koks kitas autorius, bet kokia kita knyga, malonumo tikriausiai b奴t懦 nelik臋 visai. Bet 拧iuo atveju Zweigo talentas 鈥� nepaneigiamas. Ir net 啪inant kas bus, jam sluoksnis po sluoksnio knisantis po 啪mogaus asmenyb臋, charakter寞 ir polinkius, po啪i奴r寞 ir baimes, skaityti vis tiek buvo nepaprastai malonu. Plaukiantis vertimas, o autoriaus sakiniai tokie, kad nors krisk 寞 juos kaip 寞 debes寞 鈥� ne devynauk拧膷iai, nereikalingai pompasti拧kai i拧p奴sti, o tiksl奴s ir tobulai meni拧ki viename. Kaip toks talentas i拧 viso egzistuoja?

漠 trump膮, net 300 puslapi懦 nesiekian膷i膮 knyg膮, telpa tiek daug: l奴kes膷iai ir (menki) pasiekimai, svajon臈s ir realyb臈, karas ir badas, skausmas 鈥� tiek neapr臈piamas, tiek nesuskai膷iuojamas. Zweigas 啪ino: kartais pakanka to k i t o k i o gyvenimo vos paragauti, o jau visa kita atrodys pr臈ska ir blanku 鈥� net jei skanavai vos kelet膮 dien懦, tik l奴pas suvilgei, tik k奴nu prie suknel臈s 拧ilko, odinio automobilio salono ir aksomin臈s sofut臈s prisiglaudei akimirkai. Jis 寞rodo, koks tikslus posakis apie tai, kad prie gero 鈥� greitai priprantama. Kur kas tikslesnis nei tas, apie kariam膮 拧un寞. Zweigas parodo kiek nedaug 鈥� vos svajon臈s ir iliuzijos 鈥� tereikia, kad skristum lyg ant sparn懦, net jei k膮 tik tik臈jai, kad j懦 neturi visai. Ir kaip gyvenimo skon寞 pakei膷ia prieskoniai, 寞 kuriuos nusispjauna tik tie, kurie ragauja kasdien. O knygos pabaiga tokia netipi拧ka, kad atrodyt懦, jog 膷ia 21-ojo am啪iaus k奴r臈jas imituoja klasikin臋 literat奴r膮 鈥� kaip Zweigas buvo taip labai pralenk臋s savo laik膮? Kaip gal臈jo 拧itaip perprasti moter寞, vyr膮, visuomen臋, pa膷ius skirtingiausius jos sluoksnius? Kaip tur臈jo dr膮sos roman膮 pabaigti va 拧itaip?

Jei ne toji nelemta anotacija, b奴膷iau ma啪iau knygos skaitymo laiko i拧vais膷iusi galvodama, kad kaip b奴t懦 gera 鈥濸ermain懦 svaiguliu鈥� svaigintis 啪inant tik tiek ma啪ai, kiek 寞prastai 啪inai, imdamas knyg膮 寞 rankas. Vis d臈lto, net jei b奴膷iau smulkmeni拧kai 啪inojusi kiekvien膮 siu啪etin寞 pos奴k寞, vis tiek knygos negalima u啪 tai bausti 鈥� ji nuostabi, nuostabi, nuostabi, o esm臈, kaip su did啪iausiu talentu da啪niausiai ir b奴na 鈥� procese. Tik j臈ga j膮 kas nors i拧pl臈拧t懦 i拧 mano bibliotekos. 沤inau, kad skaitysiu dar ne kart膮 鈥� ji viena t懦, kur b臈gant metams suskamb臈s vis kitaip ir kas kart膮 tiek pat nepriekai拧tingai skausmingai.
Profile Image for Tony.
1,009 reviews1,827 followers
Read
April 6, 2018
It would be wrong to criticize the author, who held this back from publication. It's disjointed and incomplete, as Zweig surely knew. It deserves a fragmented review. And I'm the obliging type.

First the bromides. Or axioms, or samplers. Those things that you read and nod to, but on second glance, well, here:

-- Happy people are poor psychologists.

-- Malice is always lucky.

-- The subject of a rumor is always the last to hear it.

-- It's one of the few advantages of age that one is rarely wrong about people.

One of these is true. One of these is false. And two are just silly. I found them in a mere seven pages, when the author must have been having a particularly aphoristic afternoon.

It may be true that there is a small number of people I might warm to, but whiny nihilists will not be among them.

When all is hopeless - meaning your job sucks and true love eludes - there are, apparently, only two choices: suicide for two, or rob a bank.

Kind of chilling that Zweig was already thinking about option 1, a good decade before he, you know, chose option 1.

Zweig wrote a page-turner in , and he nailed what he was always trying to say in the brief . But he didn't want you to read this one.
Profile Image for Eman.
323 reviews101 followers
November 8, 2022
丕賱賮賰乇丞 丕賱鬲賷 兀乇毓亘鬲賳賷 賮賷 賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 兀賳 丕賱匕丕鬲 亘賰賱 兀氐丕賱鬲賴丕 賵 孬亘丕鬲賴丕 毓賱賶 賲亘丕丿卅 賻賵兀賮賰丕乇 賲賳匕 賳卮兀鬲賴丕 賯丿 鬲賰賵賳 匕丕鬲丕賸 夭丕卅賮丞 .. 賯丕亘賱丞 賱賱鬲丨賵賱 丨賷賳 鬲禺鬲賱賮 丕賱馗乇賵賮 賰賱賷丕賸 賱鬲亘夭睾 匕丕鬲 噩丿賷丿丞 賲禺鬲賱賮丞 賰賱 丕賱丕禺鬲賱丕賮 .. 丨賷賳賴丕 賷賰賵賳 丕賱爻丐丕賱 丕賱丨賯賷賯賷 賴賱 賲丕 賳丐賲賳 亘賴 賲賳 賯賷賲 丨賯賷賯賷 兀賳 兀賳賴 丕賱兀賳爻亘 賮賯胤 賵賷鬲賲丕卮賶 賲毓 馗乇賵賮賳丕 賵賵囟毓賳丕 丕賱丨丕賱賷責!

廿賳 兀賮賰丕乇賰 賵兀丨賱丕賲賰 賰賱賴丕 賯丿 鬲鬲睾賷乇 亘鬲睾賷乇 賲丨賷胤賰 丨鬲賶 丕賱丌賲丕賱 鬲鬲爻毓 賵鬲囟賷賯 亘賲賯丿丕乇 賲丕 鬲賲賱賰賴 ..
賯丿 賷毓賷卮 丕賱賲乇亍 毓賲乇賸丕 亘兀賰賲賱賴 賵賴賵 賷馗賳 兀賳 賲賮丕賴賷賲賴 丕賱禺丕氐丞 毓賳 丕賱丨賷丕丞 賴賷 賲賮丕賴賷賲 賰丕賲賱丞 亘賷賳賲丕 賴賵 賮賷 丕賱丨賯賷賯丞 賱賲 賷丿乇賰 賲賳賴丕 爻賵賶 噩丕賳亘 賵丕丨丿 囟卅賷賱 .. 禺乇賵噩賴 賲賳 賲丨賷胤賴 賴賵 賵丨丿賴 賲丕 賷囟賲賳 賱賴 兀賳 賷毓賷 賵噩賵賴賴丕 丕賱兀禺乇賶 賵鬲賳賵毓賴丕 禺丕乇噩 丨丿賵丿 毓丕賱賲賴 丕賱囟賷賯.
賮賱賳 鬲爻鬲胤賷毓 丕賳 鬲賰鬲賮賷 亘匕丕鬲賰 丕賱賯丿賷賲丞 亘毓丿 兀賳 鬲賰卮胤 鬲賱賰 丕賱賯卮乇丞 丕賱氐賱亘丞 賱賱丕毓鬲賷丕丿 丕賱匕賷 毓卮鬲賴 毓賲乇丕賸 賵鬲鬲丨乇乇 賲賳 賳賲胤賷丞 丕賱鬲賮賰賷乇 賵丕賱爻賱賵賰..

賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 鬲爻乇丿 胤亘賷毓丞 丕賱鬲丨賵賱丕鬲 賮賷 丕賱賳賮爻 亘賳丕亍 毓賱賶 鬲睾賷乇 丕賱亘賷卅丞 賮賷 賯丕賱亘 乇賵丕卅賷 丌爻乇 賵乇氐丿 賱毓丿賷丿 賲賳 丕賱賯囟丕賷丕 丕賱丕噩鬲賲丕毓賷丞 賵丕賱爻賷丕爻賷丞 亘毓丿 丕賱丨乇亘 丕賱毓丕賱賲賷丞 丕賱孬丕賳賷丞 ..
乇賵丕賷丞 亘丿賷毓丞 賵賲匕賴賱丞 亘賯賷鬲 亘毓丿 丕賳鬲賴丕卅賷 賲賳 賯乇丕亍鬲賴丕 兀鬲兀賲賱 賮賷 賲囟丕賲賷賳賴丕 賱兀賷丕賲 毓丿丞 賵毓噩夭鬲 丨鬲賶 毓賳 賰鬲丕亘丞 賲乇丕噩毓丞 毓賳賴丕 賮賱丕 賷賲賰賳 丕賱廿丨丕胤丞 亘乇賵毓鬲賴丕 廿賱丕 賲賳 禺賱丕賱 賯乇丕亍鬲賴丕.


Profile Image for Saif.
283 reviews193 followers
March 26, 2025
賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 鬲賳毓賷 夭賮丕賷噩貙 賰鬲亘賴丕 賵丕賳鬲丨乇 賯亘賱 兀賳 賷賰賲賱賴丕貙 賵乇亘賲丕 亘丕賳鬲丨丕乇賴 賰鬲亘 賳賴丕賷鬲賴丕...
賵賱賰賳賴 馗賱 亘丕賯賷丕 亘亘賯丕亍 賰鬲亘賴
賵丕賱丕賳鬲丨丕乇 賱賷爻 卮賷卅丕賸 毓丕乇囟丕 賵廿賳賲丕 賴賵 賲卮乇賵毓 賵亘匕乇鬲賴 馗賱鬲 鬲鬲卮賰賱 賵鬲禺賮鬲 賮賷 兀毓賲丕賱 夭賮丕賷噩
賵賱賰賳賴丕 兀賵囟丨 賲丕 賷賰賵賳 賮賷 賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞

賵賲賳 鬲丨鬲 兀賳賯丕囟 丕賱丨乇亘 丕賱毓丕賱賲賷丞 丕賱兀賵賱賶 賵賲丕 禺賱賮鬲賴 賲賳 亘丐爻 賵兀賵囟丕毓 丕賯鬲氐丕丿賷丞 賵丕噩鬲賲丕毓賷丞 賲夭乇賷丞貙 賵賮賷 馗賱 賴匕賴 丕賱兀賵囟丕毓 丕賱氐毓亘丞 賷賵囟丨 夭賮丕賷噩 爻賷賰賱賵噩賷丞 丕賱丕賳爻丕賳 丕賱賲賯賴賵乇 賵賰賷賮 兀賳賴 賷亘賷丨 賱賳賮爻賴 爻乇賯丞 丕賱丕賲賵丕賱 丕賱毓丕賲丞 賵賷毓鬲亘乇賴丕 丨賯 賲卮乇賵毓 賱賴貙 賰匕賱賰 賷賵囟丨 爻賷賰賵賱噩賷丞 丕賱氐丿賲丞 兀賵 丕賱鬲丨賵賱 賱賱丕賳爻丕賳 丕賱賮賯賷乇 賵丕賱賲賰亘賵鬲 毓賳丿賲丕 賷鬲賳毓賲 亘丕賱睾賳賶 賵丕賱鬲乇賮...
Profile Image for Naba Al-Alawi.
218 reviews28 followers
March 20, 2021
毓賳丿賲丕 賷賰鬲卮賮 丕賱賮乇丿 亘兀賳 丕賱丨賷丕丞 賮賷賴丕 兀賰孬乇 亘賰孬賷乇 賵兀噩賲賱 亘賰孬賷乇 賲賳 丕賱亘丐爻 丕賱匕賷 賷毓賷卮 亘賷賳 孬賳丕賷丕賴 賵毓賳丿賲丕 賷噩乇亘 乇賮丕賴賷丞 丕賱丨賷丕丞 丕賱亘毓賷丿丞 毓賳 丕賱賮賯乇 賵丕賱亘丐爻 賵賷賳睾賲爻 賮賷賴丕 亘賰賱 鬲賮丕氐賱賴丕 孬賲 鬲兀鬲賷 氐賮毓丞 丕賱丨賷丕丞 賱鬲毓賷丿 賴匕丕 丕賱賮乇丿 廿賱賶 賲賰丕賳賴 丕賱兀氐賱賷貙 賷鬲亘丕丿乇 廿賱賶 丕賱匕賴賳 賴匕丕 丕賱爻丐丕賱: 賰賷賮 賷賲賰賳 兀賳 賷毓賵丿 賴匕丕 丕賱卮禺氐 廿賱賶 丕賱噩賱丿 丕賱賯丿賷賲 丕賱匕賷 爻賱丨賴 毓賳 賳賮爻賴責 賵賰賷賮 爻賷毓鬲丕丿 毓賱賶 丕賱亘丐爻 賲乇丞 兀禺乇賶責
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賴匕丕 賲丕 賷丨賰賷賴 賱賲丕 夭賮丕賷睾 賮賷 乇賵丕賷鬲賴 丨賵賱 丕賱賮鬲丕丞 丕賱卮丕亘丞 賰乇賷爻鬲賷賳貙 丕賱鬲賷 兀賳賴賰賴丕 丕賱賮賯乇 賵丕賱噩賵毓 賵丕賱毓賲賱 賵丕賱賲爻丐賵賱賷丞 胤賵丕賱 丨賷丕鬲賴丕 亘毓丿 丕賱丨乇亘 丨賷賳 鬲兀鬲賷 賱賴丕 賮乇氐丞 丕賱爻賮乇 賮賷 毓胤賱丞 賲毓 禺丕賱鬲賴丕 丕賱睾賳賷丞 賵賲賳 孬賻賲 鬲購噩亘乇 毓賱賶 丕賱毓賵丿丞 廿賱賶 賮賯乇賴丕 賵亘丐爻賴丕 賲乇丞 兀禺乇賶.
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乇賵丕賷丞 鬲丨丿孬賰 毓賳 兀孬乇 丕賱丨乇亘 賵丕賱賮賯乇 賵丕賱兀賱賲 丕賱賳賮爻賷 賲賳 毓丿賲 鬲賵賮乇 兀亘爻胤 丕賱兀卮賷丕亍 賱賱賮乇丿貙 毓賳 爻賱亘 丕賱兀丨賱丕賲 賵丕賱賰乇丕賲丞. 毓賳 氐乇丕毓 丕賱乇睾亘丞 賮賷 丕賱鬲丨乇乇 賲賳 丕賱禺囟賵毓 賵丕賱禺賳賵毓 賵丕禺鬲賱丕賯 賴賵賷丞 匕丕鬲 賰乇丕賲丞 賱賱賮乇丿 爻毓賷丕賸 賮賷 丨賷丕丞 賰乇賷賲丞.
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兀亘丿毓 夭賮丕賷睾 賮賷 賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賮賷 賵氐賮 丕賱賳賮爻 丕賱亘卮乇賷丞 賵丕賱丨丕賱丕鬲 丕賱賳賮爻賷丞 賱賱亘卮乇. 賰賲丕 兀亘丿毓 賮賷 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賵兀丨丿丕孬賴丕 亘卮賰賱 噩丕匕亘 賵賲賲賷夭 噩丿丕賸. 乇賵丕賷丞 乇丕卅毓丞 噩丿丕賸 賮賷 丕賱賵氐賮 賵丕賱爻乇丿 賵丕賱卮禺氐賷丕鬲 賵丕賱毓亘乇 氐丕睾賴丕 夭賮丕賷睾 亘兀爻賱賵亘 噩匕丕亘 賵噩賲賷賱.
Profile Image for Ana.
88 reviews24 followers
May 24, 2023
Gosto sempre muito dos livros do Stefan Zweig. J谩 li uns oito ou nove e sinto sempre uma montanha russa de emo莽玫es de cada vez que o leio.

A hist贸ria passa-se no per铆odo que se seguiu 脿 Primeira Guerra Mundial e segue a vida de Christine, uma jovem de 26 anos, funcion谩ria dos Correios que vive com a m茫e doente. A vida dela muda drasticamente quando recebe um convite para passar f茅rias num dos hot茅is mais requintados da Su铆莽a. A铆, 茅-lhe revelado um mundo de luxo e extravag芒ncia no meio dos ricos aristocratas europeus.
Quando as f茅rias acabam, Christine retorna 脿 sua vida anterior mas j谩 n茫o se consegue adaptar, a pacata e remediada vida de antes torna-se desprez铆vel, todos lhe s茫o insuport谩veis. Christine torna-se azeda e odiosa. Ter谩 agora que se reconfigurar e procurar novo sentido para a vida.



Profile Image for Dagio_maya .
1,049 reviews326 followers
September 5, 2020
Cristine vive una vita modesta, monotona e piatta come l'arredamento dell'ufficio postale in cui lavora: identico a quello di ogni sperduto paesino austriaco.
Giornate trascinate e nessuno obiettivo. Poi, all'improvviso un telegramma...



... per me 猫 stato come se capissi per la prima volta cosa vuol dire respirare

Zweig non dipinge solo un dramma individuale ma quello di una generazione che denuncia il paradosso sociale delle diseguaglianze.
L'apparato statale 猫 denigrato, deriso ed accusato come primo e principale colpevole

(鈥�) questo fantoccio assurdo, allo Stato, a Lui, che non respira e non vive, che non ha desideri e non conosce niente, questa invenzione di massima stupidit脿 dell'umanit脿, che stritola gli esseri umani.

Una condanna dunque 猫 gi脿 stata proclamata e chi ha sofferto e soffre 猫 legittimato ad agire contro lo Stato in quanto eterno debitore nei confronti del popolo.
Affinch茅 tutti abbiano la propria estasi di libert脿.


Essere coscienziosi nei confronti dello Stato poteva valere nei tempi passati, quando Lui era un benevolo precettore, probo, educato e corretto. Ora che lo Stato si comporta da farabutto, ognuno di noi 猫 legittimato a essere a sua volta un farabutto.
Profile Image for Evi *.
390 reviews294 followers
July 25, 2018
Mi sono avvicinata a questo libro dopo avere visto di recente (maggio 2017) in TV, ma sebbene distrattamente come spesso guardo i film che non mi catturano totalmente, Grand Hotel Budapest.
Pare che il regista si sia ispirato molto liberamente alle opere di Zweig, in particolare a questo che 猫 il suo ultimo romanzo sebbene di lunga gestazione, leggere quello che 猫 l鈥檜ltimo libro di un autore d脿 sempre un senso di nostalgia e di profondo rispetto, per un evento che non potr脿 pi霉 riprodursi, come se il tempo si fermasse.

Zweig 猫 un autore sul quale ho, per le rare esperienze che me lo hanno fatto incontrare, alcune riserve che in questo libro si sono confermate invece che dissimulate.
E鈥� un autore che scrive veramente molto bene, non lo si pu貌 negare, ma per i miei gusti 猫 spesso ipertrofico almeno lo 猫 in Estasi di libert脿, aggettiva in modalit脿 eccessiva, sovrabbonda di immagini e similitudini, e ripete pensieri e concetti.
E鈥� il tipo che ti dice tutto, ma proprio tutto, tutto, tutto raramente lascia ombra al dubbio e cos矛 il lettore smette di pensare e riflettere, quasi costretto a stare in modalit脿 passiva, prono a recepire parole senza elaborare pensieri.
Quel suo essere cos矛 esaustivo, cos矛 prodigo nelle descrizioni di oggetti, ambienti, azioni, pensieri movimenti, quella frase sempre cos矛 opportuna, a cui non cambieresti una sillaba mi d脿 l鈥榠dea di chi voglia raggiungere allo spasimo la perfezione, mentre la bellezza talvolta si cela dietro il suo contrario: una perfetta imperfezione.
Io per me amo anche lo scarto di pensiero, il dubbio instillato sul rigo, la sospensione lacerante.
Sento un po鈥� freddo quando leggo Zweig, o meglio poco tepore.
Zweig 猫 un autore ottimo ma fin troppo accogliente, secondo me.

Detto questo devo ammettere che Estasi di libert脿 猫 un libro che cattura, corre veloce con brio e reclama la sua lettura, per l鈥檃ffresco storico Zweig 猫 maestro, l鈥檃rgomento del romanzo lascia dentro una grande desolazione, un moto di immane frustrazione per l鈥檌neluttabilit脿 innanzi il potere di cambiare la collocazione sociale degli individui e di fare cadere, o rendere almeno pi霉 labile, la barriera che separa la ricchezza dalla povert脿, ancora pi霉 tremendo quando hai assaggiato la prima e ti ritrovi ingabbiato nella seconda.
Profile Image for Quo.
330 reviews
July 15, 2021
Robert Browning once stated that "there is nothing so unpardonable as to consent to a senseless, aimless, purposeless life". Stefan Zweig's novel, The Post Office Girl, is a tale about 2 people in the age of Franz-Joseph's Austro-Hungarian Empire who refuse to consent, or rather withdraw their consent in the midst of a life that seems to reveal a deck utterly stacked against them. Reading Zweig's novel is like entering a diorama to a time & place long vanished.



Christine Hoflehner is a 28 year old, menial post office clerk at a downtrodden, small town outside Vienna, almost terminally bored but exceedingly efficient at her job. One day, she is invited to spend a holiday at a Swiss resort with her aunt Clara, married to a Dutch-American who has acquired considerable wealth. Christine's widowed, quite ill mother, who is under her care, is ecstatic, causing Christine to gratefully accede to the invitation, viewing it as the opportunity of a lifetime, particularly after living so long with her mother's infirmity & in the midst of post-WWI inflation.

The novel follows Christine's path to maturity at a time...
when the war has ended but poverty has not. It only ducked beneath the barrage of ordinances, crawled foxily behind the paper ramparts of war loans & banknotes with their ink still wet. Now, it's creeping back out, hollow-eyed, broad-muzzled, hungry & bold, eating what's left in the gutters of war.

An entire winter of denominations & zeroes snows down from the sky, hundreds of thousands, millions, but every flake melts in your hand. Money dissolves while you're sleeping, it flies away while you are changing your shoes. Life becomes mathematics--a mad whirl of figures & numbers, a vortex that snatches the last of your possessions into its black, insatiable vacuum.
The prose is amazingly fluid, graceful & at times almost entrancing, taking the reader back to an imperial time when the world was for the few and for the very few. But in the midst of almost unfathomable austerity, one man who plays Schubert & Mendelssohn late at night, when the neighbors are all asleep is described as a calligrapher whose handwriting is "almost Koranic, with its delicate curves & shading, done mostly for the sheer joy of it."

Yes, it is possible for a at least a few to emit a kind of joy, even in the midst of a depressive, class-ridden, hope-destroying age. But for Christine, life becomes akin to a Cinderella story, as she entrains for Switzerland and a grand resort hotel. She enters, feeling awkward & even displaced but her aunt guides her through the niceties of dressing for high tea & dinner, even providing some of her own dresses & jewelry, while treating her niece to a makeover at the grand hotel's beauty salon.

Christine is stunned by the transformation & the sense of freedom, falling into a "pleasantly detached stupor, drugged by the fragrance-laden air and she is now attractive to elegant, strange men". But at the same time, she is afraid of "suddenly falling out of a dream".



Quite suddenly, everyone is at Christine's beck & call & she now views herself as alluring to men & women alike, sensing "some subtle narcotic within her, compounded of unknown sources." She seizes each new social connection within the hotel's constantly revealing world of splendor, even changing the spelling of her name to make herself appear less common. All is well until there comes a drift of gossip to suggest the nature of Christine's humble origins.

In time "she shakes herself awake, asking: Who am I, Who am I really?" However, very quickly the gilded life begins to tarnish and she sees those at the grand hotel, herself included as false, arrogant, cowardly, self-satisfied & insubstantial, rather like a mirage, beginning to feel one thing, "hate for everyone here, for all of them". Suddenly, she vows to vanish from the hotel that had previously so dazzled her.
She sits all through the night, frozen with fury. Nothing in the hotel reaches her through the upholstered doors; she doesn't her the untroubled breathing of sleepers, the moans of lovers, the groans of the sick, the restless pacing of the sleepless, doesn't hear the through the closed glass door, the morning breeze already blowing outside; she's aware only that she's alone in the room, the building, all of creation.
In the early morning, Christine flees in the threadbare togs she came in, almost unrecognized by the few early risers, returning to her previous, anonymous shell of identity. In time, in the streets of Vienna she meets a former soldier named Ferdinand, who is also bereft of hope, someone "who is not a Boshevik, a Communist, Socialist, Fascist or a capitalist", considering his work his only refuge, except that the work has disappeared & he has been rendered redundant. Seemingly, Ferdinand who once had ideas & a long-thwarted vision for himself, now is seen as merely among the dregs of an empire in decline.
I'm 30 years old & 11 of those years have been wasted. I'm 30 & still don't know who I am. I still don't know what it's all for. I've seen nothing but blood, sweat & filth. I've done nothing but wait & wait some more. I can't take it any longer, being at the bottom & on the outside. It makes me livid & it's driving me crazy. Time's running out while I do odd jobs for other people, while I am just as good as the architect who's telling me what to do. I know as much as the guys at the top. I breathe the same air & the same blood runs through my veins. I just showed up too late. I fell off the train & can't catch up no matter how fast I run.
The pair of lonely, disenfranchised but well-meaning souls bond but not in anything resembling a loving relationship; rather, they are more like two shipwrecked figures, clinging to to each other as kindred spirits, without much hope of ever finding a safe haven, a welcoming refuge. In fact, "when they thought of each other, it wasn't with feelings of passion or love but with something like pity--not the way you think of a lovers but rather of a friend in trouble."



Not wishing to reveal the ending of this often very moving story, I will just suggest that I found it troubling that the author offered no hope for change, nor any scenario to transform the system, as Christine had once been transformed. Given her connection to family in America, might Christine not have envisioned an opportunity for transit to Ellis Island as a possible life-raft?

The answer to that un-chosen possibility would seem to rest most certainly with Stefan Zweig, who found himself a perpetual exile & in the throes of despair, as a very esteemed & successful author but a Jew under the Nazi regime in Vienna. Forsaking Austria & feeling adrift as a refugee in London, he later retreats to the town of Bath, followed by a passage to New York City, in time becoming a resident of Ossining, N.Y. Finally, feeling ill-equipped to deal with the now-vanished world he once knew, Zweig flees with his young wife to Brazil, apparently a place at peace, offering a sense of racial equality & with a sizable German-speaking community of fellow refugees clustering together during WWII.

The Post Office Girl is hardly a perfect novel, amply if not very upliftingly harkening back to Stefan Zweig's own harshly pessimistic, late-in-life worldview, while doing so with very moving descriptive language. It is a book about the struggle to find one's identity in the midst of severe obstacles and the utter discontent that comes not so much with missed opportunities but with their complete absence.

*My version of the book was translated by Joel Rotenberg. I've also read & enjoyed Stefan Zweig's novella, Chess Story and a biography of the author by George Prochnik, The Impossible Exile: Stefan Zweig at the End of the World.

**Within my review are images of author Stefan Zweig, the Grand Hotel Kronenhof, Pontresina, Switzerland and an Austrian postage stamp commemorating the author.
Profile Image for Anna.
2,019 reviews950 followers
November 30, 2016
I wanted to read something by Stefan Zweig because his writing was apparently the inspiration for 鈥楾he Grand Budapest Hotel鈥�, one my favourite films of 2014. I picked 鈥楾he Post Office Girl鈥� because a brief plot description proved intriguing: an impoverished young woman works at a post office. She is whisked away from her life of drudgery for a holiday by a rich relative, then has to go back to her old life. A simple plot, but one rife with dramatic possibility. From the Wes Anderson film, I anticipated something droll, mannered, yet with some sharp edges. How I underestimated Zweig! 鈥楾he Post Office Girl鈥� has an incredible intensity of feeling. When Christine is torn away from her idyllic holiday, it鈥檚 nearly physically painful to read. When she meets someone else of equal bitterness, the feeling of recognition is like a static shock. And when one plan succeeds another towards the end, the wild hope is enough to make you gasp and clench your fists.

Rather than the film, I was reminded of and , both of which follow women with limited, lonely lives. Although they are good novels, in fact the former is brilliant, I like 鈥楾he Post Office Girl鈥� more than either. As well as conveying beautifully the emotions of the titular Christine, Zweig鈥檚 novel makes much wider social points with astonishing power. Christine鈥檚 life in 1920s Austria has been blighted by the First World War and its aftermath. More generally, she only realises how wretched her existence is once she鈥檚 had a short insight into the world of wealth and privilege. This novel is in fact a vivid, beautiful, scathing indictment of inequality such as I鈥檝e very rarely encountered in fiction. Part of Zweig鈥檚 genius is to fully explore the interdependence of the practical and emotional toll that poverty takes on Christine 鈥� both her shabby clothes and the depth of her feelings about them. Although the secondary characters are neatly drawn, indeed fascinating in the case of the more prominent ones, this is Christine鈥檚 novel. It is truly brilliant that Zweig has created such a sympathetic, nuanced, unusual character whilst also using her as a very pointed socio-political commentary. She is a person first and foremost, yet the symbolism also works well. The only other writer I can think of who walks that line so deftly is Zola in . Orwell doesn鈥檛 manage it in ; his main character is too much symbol and not enough person. Whereas in there is no real attempt at wider social commentary and the individual predominates.

In short, Zweig really blew me away. It鈥檚 as if I was expecting a frothy decaf cappuccino and found myself drinking a triple expresso. I will definitely be searching the library for more of his work. More amazing still, this is not a novel that he considered ready for publication! I鈥檓 very glad that his posthumous wishes were not respected in this case, as what a loss that would have been. 鈥楾he Post Office Girl鈥� does end in a distinctly abrupt manner, but in a very narratively satisfying place. The reader is then free to contemplate what most plausibly happened next, what you would really like to happen next, and the gap between the two. I must also add that the translation is wonderful and Zweig has a magnificent turn of phrase. Really, I should stop throwing around the hyperbolic adjectives and just heartily recommend that you read it.
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645 reviews285 followers
May 18, 2015
The themes present in life during the grips of post-WWI stricken Austria (poverty, death, sickness, class distinctions); are sadly harsh realties that are also relatable in the modern day. Stefan Zweig explores the story of Christine, a poor 28-year-old Austrian woman who briefly enjoys the lap of luxury with her Aunt on a vacation but then is sent back to her lower-class private hell in, 鈥淭he Post-Office Girl鈥�.

Zweig鈥檚 鈥淭he Post Office Girl鈥� is nothing short of a literary classic鈥攁 masterpiece in its own right. Zweig dives right into the plot in the strain of a novella or short story without a 鈥減roper鈥� buildup or introduction to the characters and yet, all is revealed on such an intimate and detailed level that the reader truly experiences all events and the psyches of Christine and the other characters. This is accented by delightful prose; which even with little dialogue transports the reader with vivid imagery and strong descriptions: the novel feels almost like watching a film.

One of the finest highlights of 鈥淭he Post Office Girl鈥� is Zweig鈥檚 amazing ability to demonstrate the emotions and actions of all the characters on a psychological level despite their ages, race, or gender. Zweig must have been an empath as few truly understand people on such an altitude. This makes not only the story in 鈥淭he Post Office Girl鈥� stand out but also offers the reader a sort of comfort and 鈥渇ood for thought鈥�.

鈥淭he Post Office Girl鈥� explores various themes of philosophical merit which brings to light the struggles of post- WWI Europe but also correlates these to any era and place which elevates the novel from simply being a dated HF story and enters the realm of a classical novel.

There are moments in the 鈥淭he Post Office Girl鈥� in terms of metaphors/ symbolism and emotional exchanges that are so raw and strong; that one can鈥檛 help but be taken aback (in the best way possible). Sometimes, 鈥淭he Post Office Girl鈥� requires a break from reading in order to take it all in (Note: 鈥淭he Post Office Girl鈥� is divided into two parts but there are no chapter breaks).

Zweig excels at presenting a story which is on the brink of improvisation: nothing is foreshadowed and much is unexpected which compels the story. This is also driven by the almost frantic pace of moments of stream of consciousness; adding layers to 鈥淭he Post Office Girl鈥�.

The climax of 鈥淭he Post Office Girl鈥� is unexpected, complex, and moving. Unfortunately, the story then takes an abrupt turn versus riding the wave and concludes the novel abruptly with unanswered questions and frankly: in a boring way. This weakens the strength of the entire book, unfortunately.

Even with the poor ending; 鈥淭he Post Office Girl鈥� is an amazing piece of writing which accurately portrays poverty, depression, and struggles in a psychological way. 鈥淭he Post Office Girl鈥� is recommended for those who enjoy character/life studies or those who have similar paths in their lives as the text is refreshingly relatable and wonderfully written.
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