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The Hotel Years

Wanderings in Europe between the Wars
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( 587 ratings, 92 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Hotel Years by Joseph Roth is a compelling collection of essays capturing the author's observant and often poignant reflections during his extensive travels across Europe between the wars. Roth intricately describes the cultural and social landscapes he witnesses, offering insights into a world in transition, with a focus on the personas and intricacies that define life in hotels and cafés. This collection serves as a vibrant portrait of an era marked by change and uncertainty.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by the rich tapestry of European history and culture during the interwar years. The author's keen observations and vivid storytelling offer a unique glimpse into the atmosphere of bustling hotels, capturing the nuances of life and change across Europe. Perfect for readers who appreciate in-depth cultural exploration and reflective travel narratives.

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A tender, unsettling collection of writing capturing a continent on the brink of further upheaval.

A tender, unsettling collection of writing capturing a continent on the brink of further upheaval.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

'A hugely significant and wonderfully haunting collection' - William Boyd

In the 1920s and 30s, Joseph Roth travelled extensively in Europe, leading a peripatetic life living in hotels and writing about the towns through which he passed. Incisive, nostalgic, curious, and sharply observed—and collected together here for the first time—his pieces paint a picture of a continent racked by change, yet clinging to tradition.

From the 'compulsive' exercise regime of the Albanian army, the rickety industry of the new oil capital of Galicia, and the "split and scalped" houses of Tirana forced into modernity, to the individual and idiosyncratic characters that Roth encounters in his hotel stays, these tender and quietly dazzling vignettes form a series of literary postcards written from a bygone world, creeping towards world war.

The Hotel Years captures the essence of an era through Roth's unique perspective, offering readers a glimpse into the past and the forces shaping it.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Hotel Years is praised for being a significant and evocative collection of Joseph Roth's journalism from the 1920s and 1930s. Critics highlight the superb translation by Michael Hofmann, which captures Roth's genius and offers insight into his diverse roles during the Weimar period.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781783788477

Publisher: Granta Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 07 April 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Granta Books

Contributors:

  • Translated by Michael Hofmann
  • Translated by Michael Hofmann

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 17.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 204g

Pages: 288

About the Author

JOSEPH ROTH (1894-1939) was a prolific journalist and novelist. One of the greatest writers of the 20th Century, his work traces the decline of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the rising fascist threat in Europe. On Hitler's assumption of power, he was obliged to leave Germany for Paris, where he died in poverty a few years later. His books include What I Saw, Job, The White Cities, The String of Pearls and The Radetzky March, all published by Granta Books.

MICHAEL HOFMANN is the highly acclaimed translator of Joseph Roth, Franz Kafka, Hans Fallada, Bertolt Brecht, and many more. A poet and essayist, he also teaches at the University of Florida.

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