Overview
Stefan Zweig se refirió al gran humanista Erasmo de Rotterdam como el primer «europeo consciente de serlo». Para él, Erasmo era el «maestro venerado», al que se sentía unido no solamente en lo espiritual sino sobre todo en el rechazo de toda clase de violencia. Esta «figura de alguien que tiene razón no en el ámbito tangible del éxito sino únicamente en sentido moral» fascinaba a Zweig. La fortaleza de espíritu y la dificultad para decidirse a actuar constituyen el «triunfo y la tragedia» de Erasmo. A la hora de la verdad, cuando el príncipe elector le pide su opinión acerca del conflicto de fe que enfrenta a Lutero y al Papa, Erasmo, en realidad simpatizante de la Reforma, recomienda la intervención de «jueces reputados y fuera de toda sospecha», es decir, encubre su propia opinión en una propuesta cauta, pues no quiere «responder de una culpa aún incalculable». Sus contemporáneos y las generaciones posteriores atribuyeron esta actitud, que no pudo remediar la escisión de la Iglesia, a su indecisión característica.
Stefan Zweig intenta, con su biografía, que Erasmo replique con lo que fue el sentido de su vida: la justicia. Sabe que «el espíritu libre e independiente, que no se deja atar por ningún dogma y que evita tomar partido, no tiene patria en la tierra».
ENGLISH DESCRIPTIONHailed as a parable for modern times, Erasmus of Rotterdam is the biography of a great humanist who, when pressed for a confession of faith, said, “I love freedom, and I will not and cannot serve any party.” At no time does Zweig mention Hitler by name, but it is obvious that his biography of a man who tried to remain above the battle, and who was torn to pieces by both Lutherans and Catholics, was aimed to illustrate the predicament of a man who refrains from activism and prefers to focus on his work.
Erasmus believed in a united Europe, and thought that Luther was splitting it in two. He first tried to reconcile the Pope to Luther’s Wittenberg theses, then to bring the German Protestants together with the representatives of Rome. Zweig portrays a steadfast Erasmus, unwilling to let emotion betray the lucidity of his thought, who knew he was the most famous intellect of his age, and evaded any commitment that would bring a host of enemies down upon his head.
“Under Zweig’s magic pen Erasmus leaps into vital existence... The books is a quietly astounding bit of biographical and historical achievement.” — Percy Hutchison, The New York Times
This book title, Erasmo de Rotterdam / Erasmus of Rotterdam, ISBN: 9786073910569, by Stefan Zweig, published by Planeta Publishing Corp (May 28, 2024) is available in paperback. Our minimum order quantity is 25 copies. All standard bulk book orders ship FREE in the continental USA and delivered in 4-10 business days.
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