Alexander Waugh's history of the famous Vienna family in the first half of the 20th century focuses on Paul, the pianist, and Ludwig, the philosopher, with other members getting (sometimes juicy) supporting roles. In addition to the personal rivalries and disputes, Waugh provides a look at life in Austria, the trauma of two world wars, the nature of identity (the Wittgensteins were classified by the Nazis as Jews even though they had been in practice Christians for a century), and classical music. Other than when it gets bogged down during an account of a financial dispute, the story rolls along swiftly with rich detail.
No comments:
Post a Comment