A city without a past is a city without a future. It may exist as a set of buildings, but not as a culture. But not every city with a past has a future, except as a set of buildings. The springs of innovation may dry up, the crossroads that first gave it its importance may no longer lead anywhere. It is then that a city that still has a present most needs its past, but that is also the moment when it has most reason to fear that past. There are no doubt many cities in this condition - with a little insight and a dose of malice each of us could draw up impressive lists. But everyone's list would surely include Vienna.

LRB 1 August 1985 | PDF Download