Past exhibition

Stefan Zweig was not only one of the most read authors of his time but also a connoisseur of autograph manuscripts. He himself brought together an exceptional collection of original manuscripts of writers and composers. He was convinced that a deeper understanding of an artistic work requires knowledge of the process of its creation. He therefore concentrated on manuscripts that came into being during that process, those that might be termed working manuscripts.

Zweig built up an impressive set of connections to collectors, research workers, antiquarian book sellers and auction houses such that he was informed of offers in good time. Recently surfaced documents, which also form the main thread of the exhibition, show that Stefan Zweig made a substantial contribution to the putting together of the Bodmer Collection, given to the Beethoven House in the will of Hans Conrad Bodmer. Bodmer, of Zurich, was perhaps the most important collector of Beethoven manuscripts and other items connected with Beethoven. To the musicologist Max Unger, Bodmer's most valued advisor and one of the leading Beethoven researchers of the time, Zweig mentioned in 1932 that "the existence of such a superb specialist collection demands that as much as possible go into it." In 1954 Bodmer bequeathed in turn his complete collection to the Beethoven House. In 1933 Zweig wrote resignedly to Max Unger: "I will probably leave off collecting altogether, I have enough to do collecting myself." Then, in the mid 1930s, with the political situation as it was, he parted with his whole collection, except for a few items.

Brief Guide