The Secret of Burning Flames · Leon's Wedding

Author: (Austrian) Stefan Zweig
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-09-01
Features: The Secret of Fire and Ice - A single male baron encounters a young married woman at his vacation spot. On the surface, the baron appears friendly toward the woman's young son, but in reality, he seeks to get close to the boy's mother to seduce her. The boy, innocent and naive, mistakenly believes the baron's kindness is directed solely at him, cherishing it deeply. However, he gradually becomes aware of the hidden emotions between the two adults. The deception by both the friend and the mother deeply wounds his pure and tender heart, leading him to resist in his own way. The mother eventually repents, and the baron's plot fails. This brief extramarital affair becomes a secret between the mother and son. The Wedding at Lyon is a short story by Zweig that tells a poignant and moving love story amidst the bloody days of the French Revolution. Under the author's concise brushwork, the harrowing scenes of the red terror of the French Revolution come to life. The success of this novel lies in Zweig's ability to reflect a historical reality through a love story, giving this short work historical value.