Abstract
The Austrian author Stefan Zweig was a convinced cosmopolitan who worked for a peaceful cooperation of the European nations after the disaster of the First World War. That was the reason why he was fascinated by the biography of Erasmus of Rotterdam who was an enemy of all fanatism. In his novel "Triumph und Tragik des Erasmus von Rotterdam" (1934), he portrayed Erasmus as a counterpart to Luther, whose religious radicalism linked with nationalistic tendencies he abhorred. Zweig contrasted the cosmopolitan humanism of Erasmus with the German reformation of Luther. Under the impression of the political takeover of National Socialism, which forced him to emigrate, Zweig became more and more interested in the history of the European reformation. After "Maria Stuart" (1935) he saw in his novel, Castellio gegen Calvin" (1936) in Castellio an heir to Erasmus who defended human freedom of conscience against the repressive theocratic regime in Geneva. In his view, Calvin became a tyrant who resembled Hitler in many points.
Item Type: | Journal article |
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Faculties: | Protestant Theology |
Subjects: | 200 Religion > 200 Religion |
ISSN: | 0028-3517 |
Language: | German |
Item ID: | 78146 |
Date Deposited: | 15. Dec 2021, 14:43 |
Last Modified: | 15. Dec 2021, 14:43 |