!!!Musil, Robert

b. Klagenfurt (Carinthia), Nov. 6, 1880, 
d. Geneva (Switzerland), April 15, 1942, writer of novels, plays and 
essays. M. grew up in Bruenn (Brno) and Steyr, attended military 
academies and studied mechanical engineering in Vienna, constructed a 
colour variation - gyroscope for optical experiments. Later completed 
his formal schooling and studied psychology and philosophy. 1908 
completed his doctoral thesis ("Beitrag zur Beurteilung der Lehren 
Machs") in Berlin. 1911-1914 worked as a librarian at the Vienna 
University of Technology and wrote "Die Anarchisten", a drama 
published 1921 as "Die Schwaermer". From 1914 worked as a journalist 
for the "Neue Rundschau". When World War I started M. served on the 
Italian front and was later transferred to the War Press Service. 
After the war worked as a civil servant and from 1922 as a writer in 
Vienna and Berlin (1931-1933). Returned to Vienna and emigrated to 
Switzerland in 1938. From 1939 lived in Geneva until his death in 
obscurity and poverty. Awards: H. Kleist Prize (1923), G. Hauptmann 
Prize (1930).

\\
His first full scale narrative "Die Verwirrungen des Zoeglings 
Toerless", highly acclaimed when published in 1906, explores the 
conflicts of an adolescent caught between awakening sexuality, 
violence and metaphysical alienation. His masterpiece "The Man Without 
Qualities" ("Der Mann ohne Eigenschaften") remained unfinished, 
although M. worked on it throughout his life. The first two parts were 
published during his lifetime (1933 and 1943), the third (unfinished) 
was published posthumously by his widow. In "Der Mann ohne 
Eigenschaften" M. describes the disintegration of the Austrian Empire 
("Kakanien"), which to him symbolizes the disintegration of world 
order as such. With its intellectual precision, its blend of irony and 
mysticism and in its innovative power, the novel "Der Mann ohne 
Eigenschaften" earned M. a position among the world´s great 
authors. World wide recognition and a Musil-revival was initiated by 
A. Frise, who edited a complete edition of M.´s work 
(1952-1957).

!Further works
Novellas: Vereinigungen, 1911; Drei Frauen, 1924. - 
Drama: Vinzenz und die Freundin bed. Maenner (comedy), 1924. - Essays: 
Nachlass zu Lebzeiten, 1936; Ueber die Dummheit, 1937; Das hilflose 
Europa, ed. 1961. - Editions: Diaries, ed. by. A. Frise, 2 vols., 
1976; Collected works, ed. by A. Frise, 2 vols., 1978; Letters 
1901-1942, ed. by A. Frise, 1981.

!Literature
R. Schneider, Die problematisierte Wirklichkeit, 1975; 
R.-M.-Symposion Berlin 1980, ed. by D. Farda, 1982; M. Max and 
J. C. Thoeming, R. M., A Selected Bibliography, in: Text und 
Kritik 21/22, %%sup 3/%1983; H. G. Pott, R. M., 1984; 
K. Corino, R. M. Leben und Werk in Bildern und Texten, 1988; 
G. Baumann, R. M., ein Entwurf, 1997; T. Pekar, R. M. 
zur Einfuehrung, 1997; NOeB.



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