The Spinoza Problem by Irvin D. Yalom

Author:Irvin D. Yalom [Yalom, Irvin D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical, Philosophy, Psychology
ISBN: 9780465029631
Publisher: Basic Books
Published: 2011-12-01T05:00:00+00:00

Bento closed his notebook, stood up, and turned back through the deserted streets toward his house to collect his belongings. Suddenly, an anguished voice behind him called, “Baruch Spinoza. Baruch Spinoza.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

BERLIN—1922

Berlin on the first day of spring was much as Alfred remembered it from his brief stay in the winter of 1919. Under a granite sky, with biting cold winds and continual light rain that never seemed to reach the ground, dour shopkeepers swaddled in several layers of clothes sat in unheated shops. The Unter den Linden was empty but guarded at every street corner by soldiers. Berlin was dangerous: violent political demonstrations and assassinations of both Communists and Social Democrats were everyday happenings.

At the end of their last meeting, four years earlier, Friedrich had written “Charité Hospital, Berlin” on the note that Alfred had torn up and thrown away, only to return to the spot a few minutes later to collect the scattered pieces. Approaching a guard, Alfred asked for directions to the hospital. He inspected Alfred from shoes to crown and growled, “Your vote?”

Alfred, puzzled, asked, “What?”

“Who did you vote for?”

“Oh.” Alfred drew himself up. “I’ll tell you who I will vote for in future elections: Adolf Hitler and the entire anti–Jewish-Bolshevist platform of the NSADP.”

“Don’t know any Hitler,” replied the soldier, “and never heard of the NSDAP. But I like the platform. The Charité, huh—you can’t miss it—it’s the largest hospital in Berlin.” He pointed to a street on his left. “Down that street, straight ahead.”

“Thank you much. And, sir, keep the name Hitler in mind. You’re going to be voting for Adolf Hitler soon enough.”

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.