Stefan Zweig

Stefan Zweig
Stefan Zweig
Portrait of Stefan Zweig
Zweig c. 1912
Born(1881-11-28)November 28, 1881
DiedFebruary 22, 1942(1942-02-22) (aged 60)
Cause of deathSuicide by barbiturate overdose
Resting placePetrópolis Municipal Cemetery
CitizenshipAustrian
EducationMaximilian Gymnasium
Alma materUniversity of Vienna (PhD, 1904)
Occupation(s)Novels, novellas, biography, essays, memoirs, drama, poetry
Years active1901–1942
EmployerNeue Freie Presse
OrganizationInternationale Stefan Zweig Gesellschaft
Known forHistorical biographies, novellas, memoir writing, advocacy of European humanism and internationalism
Notable workThe World of Yesterday
Beware of Pity
Letter from an Unknown Woman
Amok
Twenty-Four Hours in the Life of a Woman
The Royal Game
MovementModernism
Spouse(s)Friderike Maria von Winternitz (née Burger) (m. 1920; div. 1938)
Lotte Altmann (m. 1939–1942)
Parent(s)Moritz Zweig (1845–1926)
Ida Brettauer (1854–1938)
RelativesAlfred Zweig (1879–1977) (brother)
AwardsGoethe Prize nomination (1932)
Websitestefan-zweig.com
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Stefan Zweig (German: [tsvaɪk]; November 28, 1881 – February 22, 1942) was an Austrian writer of Jewish descent. He was born in Vienna. He volunteered to be a soldier in the First World War, and got the post as a military commentator. This made him an enemy of war. The Nazis gained power in Germany in 1933, and their influence could be felt in Austria as well. 1934, Stefan Zweig emigrated, first to London, then to South America. That way he lost much of his audience. He committed suicide (together with his second wife) by barbiturate overdose in Petropolis, Rio de Janeiro in 1942.

He has written many books and poems. One of his best-known works is called 'Schachnovelle (The Royal Game, in English. In it, he describes a Chess player, that is forced to play against himself (while imprisoned). He explores the theme of madness. This book inspired the movie Geri's Game, made by Pixar in 1997.

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