The idea to assemble a list of my favorite books set in/about Vienna developed organically from the weekly Wednesday book recommendation I put up on our social media channels. Initially, as part of the #dailydreamtravel, these photos were rather inexpressive. In time, I realized that I quite enjoy putting together meaningful settings for my book pictures and even walking around Vienna and taking photos of books across the city. Thus, this list of my favorite books set in/about Vienna is as much a photo essay as it is a reading recommendation.
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Books set in/about Vienna – novels and memoirs
Night Falls on the City, by Sarah Gainam
It was a windy, leaden, mid-autumn evening on the Kärntner Strasse. I was just killing time until an opera performance and decided to browse again through the English section of the Frick bookstore.
What is nowadays a rather kitschy souvenir shop on Vienna’s main pedestrian artery, used to be this cozy bookshop with a couch and big windows overlooking the street. That is how I came across Night Falls on the City, my absolute favorite novel on Vienna, which I pretty much finished in one sitting.
It tells the story of a famous Viennese actress, Julia Homburg, who is forced to conceal her politician Jewish husband as soon as German troops enter Austria in World War II. The consequences of this double life on all those involved are tremendous, while the city itself and the transformations it undergoes take central stage every so often, mirroring the dissonances that arise in the Viennese society.
The sequels to the novel, titled A Place in the Country and Private Worlds are available on kindle on amazon. They delve deeper into the themes of identity, belonging, and the complexities of urban life, and expand upon the rich narrative established in the original. Each installment continues to explore the intricacies of its characters’ relationships and their struggles against the backdrop of a changing city post World War II, weaving together personal and societal challenges. As the story unfolds, readers encounter new layers of conflict and resilience, further enriching the overarching narrative. The sequels introduce fresh perspectives that resonate with contemporary issues, making them a worthwhile continuation of the journey. These are some of my favorite books.
The Only Woman in the Room, by Marie Benedict
A recent addition, The Only Woman in the Room is a page-turner that details the incredible life of actress and inventor Hedy Lamarr, who grew up and made her stage debut in early 1930’s Vienna while being associated with the rise of Nazism in the city.
The novel is a captivating portrayal of an outstanding historical personality, blending her subsequent glamorous Hollywood life with her groundbreaking contributions to science. The novel beautifully illuminates the struggles and triumphs of this remarkable woman, making it a compelling and empowering read. While there have been several attempts to photograph this book in an appropriate setting, I still have to replace the picture.
Meanwhile, other novels by Marie Benedict, not set in Vienna, on remarkable female personalities are worth a read. My personal favorites are Her Hidden Genius and Lady Clementine.
The World of Yesterday, by Stefan Zweig
The best autobiography I have read, The World of Yesterday was sent to the publisher a few days before the author took his own life. It is a first-hand portrait of Vienna and the Austrian society during the late years of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and a grim, unforgiving account of the world between the two world wars.
Besides a unique perspective, Stefan Zweig’s famous memoir also allows an honest, uncensored look into the workings of his great mind and is a portrait of the intellectual life of the period, as Zweig mentions his encounters and friendships with Romain Rolland, Sigmund Freud, and Richard Strauss among many others. A masterpiece that should be mandatory reading for anyone trying to understand the history of the last century.
1913: The Year Before the Storm, by Stefan Illies
Another one of my purchases from the Frick bookstore on Kärntner Strasse, the account of Stefan Illies reads like a juicy, historically accurate gossip column of what was going on right before the start of World War I. An amazing perspective to complement Stefan Zweig’s!
1913 The Year Before the Storm is the year when Henry Ford introduces the automated production line, Proust starts his masterpiece, Chaplin signs his first contract, and the art scene encounters Stravinski and Picasso. Thomas Mann, Matisse, Rodin, Hitler, Alma Mahler, Kokoschka, Stalin, Tito, Rilke and their roundabouts in the year before the storm take in turn central stage in this account of Europe on the brink of disaster.
Although it only covers Vienna in one chapter, Charles Emmerson’s masterpiece on the same topic 1913 – The World Before the Great War is a more in-depth work on the topic.
And a recent honorary mention by Stefan Illies – Love in the Time of Hate – represents a magnificent cultural exploration of some of the most iconic love stories from the 1930s, set against the increasingly oppressive context of fascism in Europe.
The Radetzky March, by Joseph Roth
A remarkable chronicle of the decaying Austro-Hungarian Empire can be found in Joseph Roth’s most famous novel, The Radetzky March.
It traces the history of the Trotta family across three generations, each equally intertwined with the fate and mentalities of said empire. Be it ennoblement, civil service, or an outdated legacy, everybody’s personal focus grows in the shadow of history while the music of Johann Strauss provides the background.
A feat of modern literature, this work puts its author on equal footing with Thomas Mann, Marcel Proust, and James Joyce. Its sequel The Emperor’s Tomb continues the story up to the annexation of Austria by Hitler’s Germany.
To complete the list on the topic, Brigitte Hamann‘s historical inquiry into what turned an unexceptional young man into the tyrant Adolf Hitler looks at his formative years in Vienna. Hitler’s Vienna describes the dark, conservative, and prejudiced facets of fin de siècle Vienna. Robert Seethaler’s The Tobacconist is a masterpiece that follows a young man’s journey of self-discovery in 1930s Vienna, highlighting his relationship with Sigmund Freud and the impact of rising political tensions on everyday life. It is a book I purchased in German, so getting through it proved to be more challenging than expected.
The Accidental Empress, by Allison Pataki
My favorite account of Sisi’s life, The Accidental Empress dwells on the first few years of Sisi’s life as an empress. Pataki masterfully weaves history with romance, bringing to life the complexities of Elisabeth’s character and the opulent yet suffocating world of the Habsburg court. The narrative is rich with detail and emotion, immersing readers in Elisabeth’s struggles and triumphs. Pataki’s writing is both lyrical and engaging, making the historical figures feel relatable. The sequel to the novel: SISI, Empress on Her Own brings forward the conflicting desires that plagued Sisi’s life: to hold her family together or to escape the confines of her stifling marriage as the First World War looms. In a time of weakening monarchies, the empress strives to claim her rightful place alongside her husband, earn the affection of her people, and preserve her empire. Unputdownable reads!
Honorary mention – The Vienna Melody, by Ernst Lothar
It does not happen often that I struggle to finish one of the books set in/about Vienna, but it just so happened to be the case with Ernst Lothar’s novel. Incredibly well-researched and commendable for the depth of its characters, this novel does lack a certain pace of action to keep the reader engaged to the end.
One of the few Vienna readings I picked up during the March 2020 lockdown (see full article here), this novel describes how historical events affect generations of the Alt family living at 10 Seilerstatte in Vienna’s inner first district. An accurate history and character lesson for those looking to become familiar with Viennese events and mentalities from the last century.
Old Masters, by Thomas Bernhard
In Old Masters, Thomas Bernhard presents a compelling dialogue set in Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum between an unnamed narrator and a cantankerous, elderly painter. The narrative explores themes of artistic integrity and societal decline, with the painter offering cynical yet poignant reflections on modern culture. Bernhard’s signature long, flowing sentences create an immersive experience, mirroring the characters’ complex thoughts. The museum is a metaphor for the tension between timeless art and fleeting life. Darkly humorous and intellectually stimulating, “Old Masters” is a profound meditation on authenticity and legacy, making it a must-read for lovers of thought-provoking literature.
The Piano Teacher, by Elfriede Jelinek
Elfriede Jelinek was awarded in 2004 the Nobel Prize for literature.The Piano Teacher is her most famous novel.
Erika Kohut is in her late thirties and teaches at the Vienna Conservatory, while still sharing an apartment and a dysfunctional relationship with her mother. Alongside other episodes from her past, the interaction with her mother is responsible for Erika’s violent, obsessive, and self-mutilating personality. When her student Walter Klemmer enters the equation tensions built up to the point of all-encompassing self-destruction.
Books set in/about Vienna – books about music in Vienna
Why Mahler, by Norman Lebrecht
Like every excellent biography, Why Mahler is the product of longstanding passion and research. It follows the composer’s every step, and while fantastically well researched, it is a very entertaining and captivating read. How does music change our lives? And why does Mahler have so much to say to us through his modern, ahead-of-his-time works? I could not put this book down, and if you decide to read it in Vienna, the city will offer you ample locations to fully appreciate it!
The Last Waltz, the Strauss Dynasty and Vienna, by John Suchet
No list of books set in/about Vienna is complete without a stop at the Strauss dynasty.
The Blue Danube, Tales from the Vienna Woods, Voices of Spring, The Radetzky March – pieces of music that are synonymous with Vienna, so much so that they are played by all major airlines even before you land in Austria’s capital.
John Suchet, UK journalist mostly known for his work on Beethoven, has put together this amazing family chronicle of two Viennese generations that have produced so many musical masterpieces. The Last Waltz is a gripping account of family dramas, tensions, jealousies, triumphs, feuds, and disasters, the story also reveals a lot about the turbulent times and society in which these famous works were composed.
Music and Musicians in Vienna, by Richard Rickett
This pocket-sized book is the type of treasure you would have found if you browsed long enough through Arcadia, the music/paper/book shop in the building of the Vienna State Opera. Arcadia has closed meanwhile, but Shop Hamtil & Söhne at the same location is worth a quick browse.
Music and Musicians in Vienna is ideal for carrying around to be read in the city’s most famous coffee houses and parks, so much so that I lend it to almost every one of our guests who visit Vienna for a few days.
Within 150 pages, the author explains why Vienna has been the capital of classical music for the past two hundred years, how this tradition came about and was maintained, and how composers influenced each other and the city they all ended up calling home. It is a well-researched, fantastically asserted work, easy to read, and aimed at the non-specialist reader.
The Triumph of Music, by Tim Blanning
Although not strictly on the list of books set in/about Vienna, this highly enjoyable chronicle is an ambitious feat that tries to explain music as a phenomenon and a part of our daily lives. It covers a wide breadth of time and genres, from Mozart and Haydn to jazz, hip hop, MTV, and modern technology, and explains how the musicians’ role in society evolved from mere court servants to today’s influencers. Finally, in the last chapter, Tim Blanning discusses music in relation to nationalism, race, and sex and the trends they follow in our modern world.
As it is one of the books I purchased and read in Vienna, it is for me a reading that will forever be linked with the city I now call home.
Books set in/about Vienna – the city takes central stage
Weird Vienna, by Harald Havas
Another pocket-sized masterpiece, Weird Vienna reminds us that Vienna is one of the cities most easily misunderstood. Beyond the glamour, music, elegance, and pastries, Austria’s capital enjoys a healthy dose of sarcasm, a quirky sense of humor, an appetite for the macabre, and gossip, and it delights in embracing weirds and weirdos.
It takes a trained local’s eye to spot all these aspects and bring them to light in an entertaining and funny rundown of Vienna’s moonlighting personality.
Another one of the books that my guests take along to devour in one sitting in Vienna’s parks.
Vienna, A Cultural History, by Nicholas Parsons
If you are as serious as I was in my first years here to understand the paradox that is Vienna, look no further than this comprehensive portrait.
From explaining the Viennese sense of humor and attitude towards life to a rundown of the most famous works of local dialect and a historical overview, Vienna, A Cultural History clarifies how a world metropolis with an amazing history can sometimes feel like a claustrophobic village.
I would have never felt at home in Vienna had I not read this book. Enough said.
Only in Vienna, by Duncan J.D. Smith
Only in Vienna will forever hold a special place in my heart, as it was my first encounter with the city off the beaten path. I purchased it from the bookshop of the Belvedere Palace a couple of months into my time here and diligently uncovered every delightful hidden gem outlined. Mysterious courtyards, forgotten cemeteries, the world’s first croissant, the Holy Grail, everything you need to fall in love with Vienna if you are not the touristy type.
Since the first version of this article on books set in/about Vienna I have been in contact with the author himself and learned so much from him about travel writing and cultural travel in general. Check out his entire series of city guides for independent cultural travelers.
Fin-De-Siecle Vienna: Politics and Culture, by Carl E. Schorske
Fin-De-Siecle Vienna won the Pulitzer Prize for the extraordinary way in which it explains how out of political turmoil and social chaos, modernity was born in Vienna. Klimt, Kokoschka, Schiele, Mahler, Freud, Wittgenstein, and many others have given the city its unmistakable aspect and personality – an absolute must on any list of books set in/about Vienna.
For more readings on the topic, check out:
A Short History of Art in Vienna, by Martina Pippal
Martina Pippal, who teaches art history at the University of Vienna, has put together this concise, friendly, beautifully illustrated overview of the many art forms and manifestations that the city has witnessed over time.
Every time I purchase an art history book I wonder if I manage to read it through, as chronology is the enemy of enthusiasm in this instance. This was not the case with A Short History of Art in Vienna, which has accompanied me on numerous discovery expeditions across the city and is one of my best companions when it comes to the city I call home.
Books set in/about Vienna – the story goes on
I belong to Vienna, by Anna Goldenberg
The appearance of a new addition to the best books set in/about Vienna is always a cherished event. This recent family memoir by Anna Goldenberg is the quintessential expression of the fact that, in what Vienna is concerned, the story goes on. Written and extraordinarily well-researched by the author, who is herself a returned Viennese, the book mainly tells the story of her grandparents. Victims of the Nazi regime, they flee to the US only to return to Vienna later on.
Answering questions such as the nature of life in Vienna during WW II and how family, greater history, and a city can shape personalities and destinies, I belong to Vienna is at the same time an outstanding reportage, a family story, and a personal essay. UNPUTDOWNABLE!
The Closing Days, by Isaac Kovach
My most recent read, The Closing Days offers a compelling portrait of Vienna in the 1990s, capturing the city’s atmosphere with vivid detail, rich descriptions, and references to the main events of the time. Although the author does not divulge a lot about his background, the novel is based on his own experience of Vienna.
The city itself becomes a character in the transformative experience of the protagonist, which reminded me a lot of my own meet-and-greet-peeling-off-one-layer-at-a-time first encounters with Vienna.
While the event twists keep the reader engaged throughout, the plot itself is at times difficult to process, which in turn helps keep the focus on the inner journey of the main character. A novel that will stay with you for a while after you finish it.
Books set in/ about Vienna – final thoughts
Ever since it was published, this article has become the staple of Vienna, Book, and Travel. It has allowed me to interact with authors and readers, to expand and enrich not only the list of books set in/about Vienna but also my understanding of this city. Layer after layer, book after book, visitor after visitor, this is where we all meet to exchange ideas and impressions.
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