Summary of Tante Jolesch or The Decline of the West in Anecdotes
“Tante Jolesch or The Decline of the West in Anecdotes” is a tribute to Jewish life in Vienna – and to a lesser extent Prague – between the two World Wars. This book offers a collection of tragicomic anecdotes featuring eccentric characters who frequented the coffee houses and kosher restaurants of both cities.
Reasons to read Tante JoleschÂ
Though a beloved classic in Austria, “Tante Jolesch” remains relatively unknown among non-German audiences. This book offers vivid insight into the Jewish communities of Vienna and Prague, even if some anecdotes have aged better than others. As a Jewish author, Friedrich Torberg fled from Austria in 1938 but returned after World War II. In 1979, he was awarded the Austrian State Prize for Literature.
Setting: Vienna (Austria) & Prague (Czech Republic)
Book mainly set in Austria: Vienna – CafĂ© Herrenhof, one of the book’s main settings, was located at Herrengasse 10.Â
Original title: Die Tante Jolesch oder Der Untergang des Abendlandes in Anekdoten
Year of publication: 1975
Number of pages: 240
