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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 Literary Fiction
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Critic reviews

"Zweig’s fictional masterpiece." ( Guardian)

What listeners say about Beware of Pity

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A wonderful discovery

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.

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Thought provoking

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

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Superbly writen and narrated.

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.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Best written book I have read.

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.

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The ending

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

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I couldn't put it down

Most excellent narration.
Great story telling.
Published in 1939 it carries an old fashioned tale of old fashioned values. Some of the best stories are told this way in my opionion.
I would definitely recommend.

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5 people found this helpful

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Beware of shame?

Is pity really the target of this fascinating story? This perspective may spring from the hero's narrative. Published in 1938, conformism and shame might also be fitting themes.

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Brilliant

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

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4 people found this helpful

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Brilliant narration

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

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A very moving story

A well written and told story. I would recommend this book. Oddly I read Jeffrey Archer’s latest book Next in Line and the prisoner Miles in his novel stated he was reading Beware of Pity.
Therefore I thought he wouldn’t have mentioned the book without rating it. Happy he had as that was how I discovered this well narrated book.

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2 people found this helpful