“The Whole Man Moves at Once”. L’Europa di Hugo von Hofmannsthal, i “cercatori” di Nietzsche e il Sud

The essay examines the concept of Europe in Hugo von Hofmannsthal's vision, highlighting its roots in Nietzschean thought and in the context of Mitteleuropean Austria. Hofmannsthal sees Europe as a fluid idea, an expression of a shared, transnational culture. Through the figure of the Nietzschean "seekers," the essay shows how Hofmannsthal views spiritual unity as an antidote to nationalism. By observing Europe from an external, often Eastern perspective, Hofmannsthal identifies a Europe that transcends political and national boundaries, reevaluating Austria's potential as a cultural mediator.