Um espectro ronda... a atualidade intempestiva de Stefan Zweig

This article addresses the relevance and contemporaneity of the life and work of the German-speaking Jewish writer, Stefan Zweig, amidst the crises of the 20th century. Highlighting the intersection of Zweig's trajectory with crucial historical events of that period, such as the two world wars, and his subsequent literary shift towards pacifism after World War I. Regarding theoretical framework, the paper explores the relationship between the concepts of contemporaneity and untimeliness, arguing that to be contemporary is essentially to be in disagreement with one's time, as discussed by philosophers such as Nietzsche (1999), Benjamin (2013a and 2013b), Deleuze (2018a, 2018b and 2020), and Agamben (2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2016). Thus, the analysis includes reflections on the ethical-political responsibility of memory and the need for resistance in the face of a past that continues to (re)assert itself, drawing from Zweig's timeless legacy as a humanistic source of inspiration to confront not only present challenges but also those of the future. Ultimately, the text concludes that Zweig's work transcends spatiotemporal boundaries, offering valuable insights into the human condition and urging readers to take a critical and active approach to the contemporary world.