It is a book that makes the reader think seriously. Then close it and think again. And once more … and never reach a certain conclusion. Because it is impossible to say about described situation: it was necessary to do some things and it wasn’t necessary to do another ones. It is not the case when the reader, looking at the situation, clearly can see when something goes wrong and how everything could be fixed. No, Stefan Zweig plunges us into a story where, even knowing how it ends, you feel a certain helplessness and understand that there is no “right” desicion and couldn’t be the “right” one. There is only a choice that each of us will make at any particular moment. But sometimes this choice becomes fatal for someone else. Even if we do not want to. Even if we wanted the best. All the characters in this story aren’t perfect. But there are no bad people among them. They are just ordinary people, with their weaknesses. Continuing to talk about the main characters of the novel, I want to note that there are no good and bad people. All four are just ordinary people. Everyone has advantages and disadvantages. For example, Edith. At first glance, she is a capricious child. Her relatives tolerate her violent outbursts and take care of her and protect her. From the other side she is just a girl who is suffering from the disease. Obviously, she became agressive, because it is not so easy. She is disabled and all the pleasures that are available to other people, are unknown for her. Anton Hofmiller made some bad things, which will tisturb him for the rest of his life. He will fully redeem his ill-considered actions which he did when he was young.

Zweig is a brilliant writer! While the reader feels the predictability of the plot from the very beginning, he understands that this story can not end with a happy ending. The book is intriguing: you are admiringly watching many psychological traps that the author put. When one or another step is taken, some decision is made, you have to be horrified because everything is relative in our world. This novel discuss eternal questions: responsibility for one’s actions, problems of choice, true love, betrayal, crime and punishment, redemption, and, of course, the boundaries of mercy. It is striking that the book is based on real events. However, even if it were not about healthy people and people suffering from a disease , not about doctors and patients, the problems raised in it would remain relevant in all areas of our lives. Therefore, it is necessary for everyone to read this book, because it can help each of us become better and avoid mistakes.