Fear

The novella tells the story of Irene, a young married woman seeking new sensations. One day, as she leaves her lover’s house, she encounters a bold and savage woman who knows her secret. From that moment, the woman begins to stalk Irene and extort money for her silence. Irene’s life as a married woman turns into a living hell, filled with soul-chewing fear that at any moment the secret will be revealed and her calm, comfortable existence will come to an end. Zweig skillfully depicts the mechanism of mounting fear—fear that, gathering momentum, can drive anyone to madness and despair—and proves that fear of punishment is far more terrifying than punishment itself.