Literary Cafes Were Once Third Spaces That Bridged Divide |
In the twilight of prewar Europe, a grand yet scarcely mentioned phenomenon unfolded within its cities’ so-called literary cafés. In Berlin, Vienna, Budapest, and Prague, these coffeehouses were unique sanctuaries where boundaries—national, religious, or ethnic—were dissolved in the warmth of spirited conversation. Here, amid curling cigarette smoke and the gentle clatter of porcelain, poets, scientists, journalists, and philosophers gathered. The world outside trembled with crisis. Yet between marble-topped tables and tall windows, a different order prevailed: one animated by curiosity, mutual respect, and the inexhaustible hope of understanding.
The pulse inside such a café was unmistakably dramatic—a living bridge over personal and historical chasms. Stefan Zweig might be........