Letter from an Unknown Woman Book Summary

Letter from an Unknown Woman is a long story written by Stefan Zweig, first published in 1922. The story is presented in the form of a letter, recounting the experiences of a famous writer who receives a letter from a woman he does not remember.

Summary of The Letter from an Unknown Woman

The book is divided into four stories: the titular story and three others. The first three stories are relatively long, resembling a novel with a subplot, while the final story is comparatively shorter. Here’s an overview of all the stories:

Letter from an Unknown Woman:

The first story is narrated through a letter. It unfolds between a writer and an unnamed woman. One day, the writer comes home from a walk to find a letter without a return address or sender’s name. However, the handwriting is that of a woman. In the letter, the woman expresses her love for him, detailing events from her life and their encounters without him noticing. It is a beautiful and poignant story.

A Story Told in Twilight:

The second story is set in a castle in Scotland and revolves around a child. It is a fantastical tale where a boy goes for a walk and encounters a beautiful woman. The boy, at the cusp of adolescence, is romantically captivated. They spend a delightful time together, but due to the darkness, he cannot decipher the woman’s facial features. The next morning, in his attempt to find her, he is met with a series of shocking revelations. Read the story for more about this mysterious woman.

Downfall of the Heart:

The third story in the book. A woman grows weary of her mundane duties and decides to take a break to rejuvenate her spirits. She retreats to a small village and seeks refuge in an inn. She has plans to read, walk on the grass, and spend a peaceful two weeks. Ironically, she encounters a man she has known since childhood, and the story unfolds from there.

The first three stories share a common theme of identity crises. The first story involves a woman narrator whose identity is concealed, the second story reveals the identity of the woman as a significant surprise to the boy, and the third story features a woman finding a man who triggers her memories.