Speak German and wonder where American cult director Wes Anderson gets his inspiration from? Join the Goethe-Institut’s free Stefan Zweig Book Club on the popular mid-century Viennese writer who has heavily influenced the American auteur’s narrative structure and aesthetic sensibility, and whose writing The Grand Budapest Hotel is based on.
Stefan Zweig’s prose in the Viennese fashion of his time is characterized by realistic storytelling, a dramatic plot, and the psychoanalytical characterization of his protagonists.
Receive a free copy of the novella “The invisible collection” in the easy-reader format for B1 to read in preparation of our in-person discussion.
Summary: “The Invisible Collection” centers on an elderly art connoisseur whose life once revolved around his treasured collection of rare prints and engravings. When war brings financial ruin to his family, they are forced to sell the collection despite his explicit wishes to preserve it. Unfamiliar with its true worth, they fall prey to unscrupulous dealers who exploit their desperation. By this time, the old man has gone blind, and in an act of quiet deception, his family replaces the artworks with blank sheets, allowing him to believe his beloved collection remains intact. The story takes a dramatic turn when a former art dealer, once connected to the old man, visits with the hope of repurchasing the prints—only to discover the haunting truth.
Do you have questions? Please email us at buchklub-toronto@goethe.de
Part of the film program Wes Anderson: Made in Babelsberg, presented by the Goethe-Institut Toronto, TIFF Cinematheque and Cinespace Studios in October 2025.
Picture sources: Illustration: © Oskar Jorgensen from “Novellen” by Stefan Zweig, Easy Readers; Photo: © Stefan Zweig Zentrum Salzburg from “Die Welt von Gestern” by Stefan Zweig, Reclam
