London honors Austrian writer Stefan Zweig with commemorative plaque

English Heritage has installed a blue commemorative plaque in London to honor the Austrian writer Stefan Zweig, marking the apartment where he lived in exile between 1936 and 1939.

Zweig, the author of works such as "Chess Story" and "Beware of Pity," fled to England following the rise of the Nazi party in Germany. During his time in the UK, he resided at 49 Hallam Street in the Marylebone district. His presence in the country was marked by intellectual activity despite increasing psychological pressure; he was later included in the Nazi SS "Black Book," a list of prominent residents targeted for detention during a potential invasion of the United Kingdom.

After leaving the UK in 1939, Zweig lived in the United States before settling in Brazil, where he died by suicide in 1942. The recognition of his years in London was advocated for by admirers, including novelist Julian Barnes.