Fear Novella by Stefan Zweig Review

Fear Novella by Stefan Zweig Review

This novella has a very common storyline. The story begins with a married woman departing her lover. She is really afraid of being discovered by her District Attorney husband.  While she is going down the stairs an old hag blocks her path. The old woman threatens to expose her illicit relationship to her husband. To keep her quiet, the lady gives the old hag all the money she is carrying. From then on, the Lady lives in fear of the old hag. The old woman even shows up at her home one day to pick up her money. This novella gives you a good idea of the tension that cheating women used to live with back then. Today, men and woman cheat on each other all the time. Divorce is not a big deal anymore. However, divorce back in the 1920s meant loss one's children and financial stability. Stefan Zweig gave us a good insight to the Fears of the Lady. He did not say, she was afraid of this or that. Rather, he described the sensations of one who is afraid. Fear is something we are all familiar with. For being smart about fear, Stefan Zweig's Fear Novella is 5 star worthy.