For those who prefer non-fiction, Zweig's "Die Welt Von Gestern" is a riveting account of early twentieth century Austria and the rise of Nazism. He clearly had made a decision to kill himself and held off just long enough to complete it.

I second #1's recommendation of "The World of Yesterday." For me, Zweig's fiction is sentimental melodrama interspersed with brief insight and some memorable characters and situations (Paul's favorite, "Chess Story," is indeed a great story). His little historical portraits fare better, and are excellent introductions to historical actors, famous or forgotten. I would highly recommend "The Right to Heresy: Castellio Against Calvin" (unfortunately out-of-print) in which Zweig implicitly sets up Calvin's creation of a theocratic Geneva to Hitler's methods of seizing power in Germany. Riveting. Lastly, for a magnificent take-down of Zweig and his writings, check out Michael Hofmann in the LRB: http://www.lrb.co.uk/v32/n02/michael-hof…

Stefan Zweig did provide the source material, too, for 1948's "Letter from an Unknown Woman" adapted by Howard Koch, directed by Howard Koch, and widely regarded by film scholars as one of the greatest films ever made -- and a considerable improvement on Zweig's novella. Seriously. You can look it up.

Correction, it was directed by Max Ophuls

#4 is correct, "Letter from an Unknown Woman" is a considerable improvement on the novella. I would only add that it is one of Ophuls's best, AND it features the late, great Joan Fontaine!!