Erasmus of Rotterdam
α’αααΈααααα βα’αα‘α·α ααααΌαα·αααα
Erasmus believed in a united Europe, and thought that Luther was splitting it in two. He first tried to reconcile the Pope to Lutherβs Wittenberg theses, then to bring the German Protestants together with the representatives of Rome. Zweig portrays a steadfast Erasmus, unwilling to let emotion betray the lucidity of his thought, who knew he was the most famous intellect of his age, and evaded any commitment that would bring a host of enemies down upon his head. In Erasmus, Zweig may have seen parts of himself. (adapted from βBook of the Timesβ by John Chamberlain,Β The New York Times, November 2, 1934)
βUnder Zweigβs magic pen Erasmus leaps into vital existence... The books is a quietly astounding bit of biographical and historical achievement.β β Percy Hutchison,Β The New York Times
α’αααΈβα’ααααα·αααα
Stefan ZweigΒ (1881-1942) was the most widely read German-language author of the twentieth century. Zweig was a secular Jew, a Pan-European and a pacifist. He was born in Vienna on November 28, 1881 and studied there and in Berlin. As a young man, he translated French poetry by Verlaine, Baudelaire, and Verhaeren into German. He quickly branched out into journalism, fiction, biography and writing for the theater. His plays, including the anti-warΒ Jeremiah, were produced throughout Europe. His books were eventually translated into over 50 languages. Today, he is best known for his many works of non-fiction. They include the classic memoirΒ The World of YesterdayΒ and many biographical essays on famous writers and thinkers such as Erasmus,Β Tolstoy,Β Balzac,Β
