Stefan Zweig was an Austrian novelist, playwright, journalist and biographer renowned for his rich contribution to literature. At the peak of his career during the 1920s and 1930s, he emerged as one of the world's most popular writers, celebrated for his compelling narratives and insightful examinations of human character.

Zweig was born into a wealthy Jewish family in Vienna, Austria-Hungary. From an early age, he was influenced by the works of Hugo von Hofmannsthal and Rainer Maria Rilke, which spurred his passion for writing. He pursued studies in Philosophy, German studies, and Romance studies in Vienna and Berlin, eventually earning a doctorate with a thesis on the philosophy of Hippolyte Taine.

Throughout his career, Zweig wrote historical studies on literary figures such as Honoré de Balzac, Charles Dickens, and Fyodor Dostoevsky, and on decisive historical events in works like Decisive Moments in History. His fiction includes celebrated titles such as Letter from an Unknown Woman, Amok, Fear, and The Royal Game. Zweig also authored biographies of notable figures including Joseph Fouché, Mary Stuart, and Marie Antoinette, his portrayal often blurring the lines between biography and historical novel.

As the Nazi regime rose to power, Zweig, a pacifist and humanist at heart, was forced into exile. He moved through England, the United States, and eventually settled in Brazil, where he continued to write despite growing despair over Europe's future. Tragically, Zweig and his wife Lotte committed suicide in 1942, leaving behind a rich legacy of literary works that continue to be celebrated and adapted into films and plays.

Zweig's memoir, The World of Yesterday, captures the vibrant cultural scene of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and remains a poignant reflection on the loss of this world in the wake of World War I and the rise of fascism.