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Beware of Pity

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Beware of Pity

By: Stefan Zweig
Narrated by: Nicholas Boulton
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About this listen

In the twilight of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a young cavalry officer is invited to a dance at the home of a rich landowner.

There - with a small act of attempted charity - he commits a simple faux pas. But from this seemingly insignificant blunder comes a tale of catastrophe arising from kindness and of honour poisoned by self-regard.

Beware of Pity has all the intensity and the formidable sense of torment and of character of the very best of Zweig's work. Definitive translation by the award-winning Anthea Bell.

©1976 Atrium Press, 2011 Anthea Bell (P)2017 Ukemi Productions Ltd Classics Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction

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Critic reviews

"Zweig’s fictional masterpiece." ( Guardian)
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I came across s writer fairly recently and have been hugely impressed. I strongly recommend his book All our Yesterdays and Pity is his only full novel.
Excellent narration and translation. More works translated into English please.

A wonderful discovery

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I hadn't read any Zweig since my degree, so was a little apprehensive that I might find this a bit too worthy, rather than enjoyable but I was happily wrong. Skillfully and precisely wrought, this novel engages and propels the reader through the trials of the protagonists and evokes the contradictions, chaos and creeping despairs of the tottering Habsburg empire.

The narration is just brilliant - the pace and intonation feel just right, and it is such a relief to hear careful attention given to the pronunciation of German and Hungarian vocabulary (I have despaired when hearing other narrators struggle with "Luftwaffe" and "Wilhelm").

The notes at the end add valuable and interesting context. This book is well worth your time and I am sure I will come back to it again in the future.

Absorbing and emotionally intoxicating

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It’s amazing how deep the author can delve into the mind. Such detail of mental torment.

Thought provoking

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I really enjoyed listening to this thought provoking book. It's superbly written and highlights both the highs and lows of human nature. The narration throughout was absolutely spot on. The pace, change of character and emphasis was exactly what was required for myself to fully appreciate this unusual and at times, unsettling story.

Superbly writen and narrated.

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I purchased this book as it was an inspiration for the film Hotel grounds for the pest BudapestThe depth of detail in each character is phenomenal, the writer has thought about every feeling and insecurity that each character has that current moment.
It would be possible to make three separate novels from this one book so be prepared for a long read and as I was listening on audible I find myself listening at a faster speed but this was purely because of the narrators velocity of speech.

Best written book I have read.

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I am glad I read it! I was a little underwhelmed. I I enjoyed the appendices! There were two short stories worth reading on their own within the whole

The ending

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Fantastic story and writing. Thoroughly recommend - especially for anyone who has ever know pain or debilitating illness.

Brilliant

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This beautiful book was so well narrated. As the pace intensified I just couldn’t stop listening.

Brilliant narration

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loved the insight into pre ww1 Austria and officer class, and life in a small town in Austria Hungary empire. The story touches upon many themes, class, social structure, anti semitism, disability and love.

captivating struggle of human morality

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Beautifully and skilfully read. What a discovery this book has been; and the author! A captivating story of many layers. Thought provoking.

Enjoyable and memorable

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