Welcome to the conclusion of our seventy-eighth Tale for Our Time: The City without Jews by Hugo Bettauer. In our final episode it all comes down to a nailbiter of a vote in the Hungarian Parliament - but not before another Epsteinian flourish:
The second glass was drained to the victory of Herr Krötzl, the third to "Down with the Jews," the fourth to "Long live beautiful Vienna, free of Jews." Then the neck of a bottle of blood-red Bordeaux was broken, and when only the dregs were left in it, and Leo was uncorking the third bottle, Krötzl declared he loved him like a brother. At the fourth bottle he acquainted the Frenchman with the secrets of his sexual life, and proclaimed that skirts over fourteen was nothin' more nor less'n old women.
He would have enjoyed the Lolita Express.
Members of The Mark Steyn Club can hear me read the conclusion of The City without Jews simply by clicking here and logging-in. Earlier episodes can be found here.
We shall have a brand new Tale for Our Time later this month. In the meantime, a word on listener reaction to our other Tales: some like the ripping yarns for boys, some the more genteel social comedy for girls, and some of you even enjoy our ventures into summer whimsy from yours truly. But of the tales in totality all seem to be in favour.
If you've yet to hear any of them, you can enjoy eight-and-a-half years' worth of audio adventures - by Conan Doyle, Kafka, Wodehouse, Gogol, Dickens, Baroness Orczy, Jane Austen, George Orwell, Robert Louis Stevenson and more - by joining The Mark Steyn Club. For details on membership, see here - and, if you're seeking the perfect gift for a fan of classic fiction, don't forget our Steyn Club Gift Membership. Sign up that special someone today - it makes a wonderful birthday present!
Tales for Our Time will be back very soon, and don't forget the latest episode of my weekend music show.
