Robert Musil

Musil in 1900Born 6 November 1880

Klagenfurt, Austria-HungaryDied 15 April 1942 (aged 61)

Geneva, SwitzerlandOccupation NovelistNationality AustrianPeriod 190542Genre Literary fictionLiterary movement modernism

Signature

Robert MusilFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Robert Musil (German: [muzl] or [musl]; 6November 1880 15 April 1942) was an Austrianwriter. His unfinished novel The Man WithoutQualities (German: Der Mann ohne Eigenschaften) isgenerally considered to be one of the most importantmodernist novels. However, the novel has not beenwidely read both because of its delayed publicationand intricate, lengthy plot.

Contents1 Family2 Biography3 Legacy4 Timeline5 Bibliography6 References7 Further reading8 External links

FamilyMusil was the son of engineer Alfred Edler von[1]Musil (1846, Temesvr 1924) and his wife HermineBergauer (1853, Linz 1924). Robert Musil was bornin Klagenfurt, Krnten, yet not long after the familymoved to Chomutov, and in 1891 Musil's father wasappointed to the chair of Mechanical Engineering atthe German Technical University in Brno, andawarded a hereditary nobility in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Robert Musil was a second cousin of orientalist Alois Musil.[2] He was baptizedRobert Mathias Musil and his name was officially Robert Mathias Edler von Musil from 22 October1917, when his father received a hereditary title of nobility Edler, until 3 April 1919, when the use ofnoble titles was forbidden in Austria.

Commemorative plaque in Brno

BiographyMusil was short in stature, but strong and skilled at wrestling,and by his early teens already more than his parents couldhandle. They sent him to military boarding school at Eisenstadt(18921894) and then Hranice(18941897). These schoolexperiences are reflected in his first novel, Die Verwirrungen desZglings Trless (The Confusions of Young Trless).

After graduating as a cadet, Musil studied briefly at a militaryacademy in Vienna during the fall of 1897, but then switched tomechanical engineering, joining his father's department atTechnical University in Brno. During his university studies hestudied engineering by day, but at night read literature andphilosophy, and went to the theatre and art exhibits. Nietzsche, Dostoyevsky, Ralph Waldo Emerson, andErnst Mach were particular interests of his university years. Musil finished his studies in three years,then in 19021903 served as an unpaid assistant to Professor Julius Carl von Bach (de), in Stuttgart.During this time he began work on Young Trless and invented the device "Musil'scher Farbkreisel",The Musil color top, a simple tool for continuous production of mixed colors by additive color mixingwith two differently colored rotating disks.

Musil grew tired of engineering and what he perceived as the limited world-view of engineers. Helaunched a new round of doctoral studies (19031908) in psychology and philosophy at the Universityof Berlin under the renowned Professor Carl Stumpf. In 1905, Musil met his future wife, MarthaMarcovaldi (ne Heinemann, 21 January 1874 6 November 1949). She had already been widowed andremarried, with two children, and was seven years older than Musil. His first novel, Young Trless, waspublished in 1906.

In 1909 Musil completed his doctorate and Professor Alexius Meinong offered him a position at theUniversity of Graz, which he turned down to concentrate on writing of novels. Over the next two years,he wrote and published two stories ("The Temptation of Quiet Veronica" and "The Perfecting of aLove") collected in Vereinigungen (Unions) published in 1911. During this same year, Martha's divorcewas completed and Musil married her. As she was Jewish, they both converted to Protestantism as a signof their union.[1] (http://escholarship.org/uc/item/5012d14x#page-10) [2] (http://www.deutsche-biographie.de/sfz67509.html) [3] (http://www.hls-dhs-dss.ch/textes/d/D12180.php) Until this time,Musil had been supported by his family, but he now found employment first as a librarian in theTechnical University of Vienna, and then in an editorial role with the Berlin Literary Journal, He alsoworked on a play entitled Die Schwrmer (The Enthusiasts), which was published in 1921.

When World War I began, Musil joined the Army and was stationed first in Tirol and then at Austria'sSupreme Army Command in Bolzano. In 1916 Musil visited Prague and met Franz Kafka, whose workhe held in high esteem. After the war's end, and the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian empire, Musilreturned to his literary career in Vienna. He published a collection of short stories, Drei Frauen (ThreeWomen), in 1924. He also admired the Bohemian poet Rainer Maria Rilke, at whose memorial service in1926 in Berlin, Musil called "undervalued" for most of his life. He said that by the time of his death,Rilke had turned into "a delicate, well-matured liqueur suitable for grown-up ladies",[3] but that his work

Depiction of Musil at the Musilhausin Klagenfurt

is "too demanding" to be "considered relaxing".[4]

In 1930 and 1933[5] in Berlin 1,074-page[6] he publishedVolume 1 (Part I: A Sort of Introduction, and Part II: The Like ofIt Now Happens) and 605-page unfinished Volume 2 (Part III:Into the Millennium (The Criminals)) of his masterpiece, TheMan Without Qualities (Der Mann ohne Eigenschaften).[7] PartIII did not include 20 chapters withdrawn from Vol. 2 of 1933while in printer's galley proofs. The novel deals with the moraland intellectual decline of the Austro-Hungarian empire throughthe eyes of the book's protagonist Ulrich, an ex-mathematicianwho has failed to engage with the world around him in a mannerthat would allow him to possess qualities. It is set in Vienna onthe eve of World War I.

The Man Without Qualities brought Musil only mediocrecommercial success. Though he was nominated for the NobelPrize in Literature, he felt he did not receive the recognition hedeserved. He sometimes expressed annoyance at the success ofmore famous colleagues like Thomas Mann or Hermann Broch,who admired his work deeply, and tried to shield him fromeconomic difficulties and encouraged his writing, even thoughMusil was initially critical of Mann.

In the early 1920s, Musil lived mostly in Berlin. In Vienna Musilwas a frequent visitor to Eugenie Schwarzwald's salon (themodel for Diotima in The Man Without Qualities). In 1932, theRobert Musil Society was founded in Berlin on the initiative of

Thomas Mann. The same year Thomas Mann was asked to name an eminent contemporary novel and hecited exclusively The Man Without Qualities. In 1936, Musil suffered his first stroke.

The last years of Musil's life were dominated by Nazism and World War II: the Nazis banned his books.He saw early Nazism first-hand while living in Berlin from 1931 to 1933. In 1938, when Austria becamea part of the Third Reich, Musil and his Jewish wife Martha left for exile in Switzerland, where he diedon 15 April 1942 at the age of 61. Martha wrote to Franz Theodor Csokor that he had suffered astroke.[8] Only eight people attended his cremation. Martha cast his ashes into the woods of MontSalve.[9] From 1933 until his death, Musil was working on Part III of The Man Without Qualities. In1943 in Lausanne, Martha published a 462-page collection of material from his literary remainsincluding the 20 galley chapters withdrawn from Part III before Vol. 2 appeared in 1933,[5] as well asdrafts of the final incomplete chapters and notes on the development and direction of the novel.[7] Shedied in Rome in 1949.

LegacyAfter his death Musil's work was almost forgotten. His writings began to reappear during the early

1950s. The first translation of The Man Without Qualities in English was published by Ernst Kaiser andEithne Wilkins in 1953, 1954 and 1960. An updated translation by Sophie Wilkins and Burton Pike,containing extensive selections from unpublished drafts, appeared in 1995.[10] Musil's work has receivedmore attention since that time,[11] including the philosophical aspects of his novels.

Timeline1880 November 6, Robert Musil born in Klagenfurt. Father Engineer Alfred Musil, motherHermine.18811882 The Musils move to Chomutov in Bohemia.18821891 The Musils move to Steyr (Austria). Robert attends the Elementary School and thefirst grade of the gymnasium.18911892 Moves to Brno. Attends the Realschule.18921894 Attends the military boarding school in Eisenstadt.18941897 Attends the military Militr-Oberrealschule in Hranice (present-day in the CzechRepublic) During his working with artillery Musil discovers his interest in technique.1897 Attends the Technische Militrakademie (de) in Vienna.18981901 Quits officer training and starts studies at the Technical University in Brno. His fatherwas a professor there since 1890. First literary attempt and first diary notations.1901 doctoral examinations.19011902 Musil enlists in the infantry regiment of Freiherr von Hess Nr. 49 in Brno.19021903 Moves to Stuttgart to work at the University. Works on his first novel DieVerwirrungen des Zglings Trless19031908 Takes up studies in philosophy; his majors are "logic and experimental psychology".1905 In his diaries he makes the first notes that develop into Der Mann ohne Eigenschaften.1906 Die Verwirrungen des Zglings Torless is published. Developed an apparatus to researchcolour experience in people.1908 Beitrge zur Beurteilung der Lehren Machs is the title of his doctoral thesis. Declines anoffer to upgrade his last military rank to an equal civilian rank in favour of writing.19081910 Works in Berlin as an editor for the magazine Pan and on his Vereinigungen and DieSchwrmer.19111914 Librarian at the Technical University of Vienna.1911 on 15 April Musil marries Martha Marcovaldi. Vereinigungen is published.19121914 Editor for several literary magazines, including Neue Rundschau.19141918 During World War I, Musil is officer at the Italian front. Decorated several times.

19161917 JulyApril: publishes the "Soldaten-Zeitung".1917 On 22 October, Alfred Musil was hereditary ennobled as Alfred Edler von Musil, makingRobert Musil also a member of the nobility until it was abolished less than two years later.[1]1918 Takes up writing again.19191920 Works for the Information Service of the Austrian foreign department in Vienna.1920 AprilJune: lives in Berlin. Meets Ernest Rowohlt who will become his publisher in 1923.19201922 Adviser for army matters in Vienna.19211931 Works as theatre critic, essayist and writer in Vienna. Works on Der Mann ohneEigenschaften.1921 The play Die Schwrmer is published.19231929 Is vice-president of Schutzverbandes deutscher Schriftsteller in stereich. MeetsHugo von Hofmannsthal, who is president of the foundation.1923 Awarded the Kleist Prize for Die Schwrmer. On 4 December Vinzenz und die Freundinbedeutender Mnner is premired in Berlin.1924 on 24 January his mother and on 1 October his father die. Awarded the art prize of the city ofVienna. Drei Frauen is published.1927 Delivers a speech following the death the previous year of Rainer Maria Rilke in Berlin.1929 4 April premire of Die Schwrmer. Over Musil's objections, the play is shortened and,according to him, incomprehensible. In the autumn awarded the Gerhart Hauptmann award.1930 The first two parts of Der Mann ohne Eigenschaften are published. In spite of criticalsupport, Musil's financial situation is precarious.19311933 Lives and works in Berlin.1932 Foundation of a Musil-Gesellschaft by Kurt Glaser in Berlin. The foundation aims to provideMusil with the means necessary to continue working on his novel. At the end of the year the thirdpart of Der Mann ohne Eigenschaften is published.1933 in May Musil leaves Berlin with his wife Martha. Via Karlovy Vary and Potstejn inCzechoslovakia they reach Vienna.19341938 After the dismantling of the Berlin Musil-Gesellschaft, a new one is founded inVienna.1935 Lecture for the Internationalen Schriftstellerkongress fr die Verteidigung der Kultur" inParis.1936 Publishes his collection of thoughts, observations and stories Nachlass zu Lebzeiten. Suffersa stroke.1938 Via northern Italy Musil and his wife flee to Zrich. Two days after their arrival, on 4

Wikisource has originalworks written by or about:Robert Musil

September, they have tea at Thomas Mann's home in Ksnacht.1939 In July moves to Geneva. Musil continues to work on his novel and grows lonelier withexile. Thanks to the Zrich vicar Robert Lejeune, Musil receives some financial support, includingfrom the American couple Henry Hall and Barbara Church. In Germany and Austria Der Mannohne Eigenschaften and Nachla zu Lebzeiten are banned. All his works are banned in 1941.1942 April 15, Musil dies in Geneva.1943 Martha Musil publishes the unfinished remains of Der Mann ohne Eigenschaften.19521957 Adolf Fris publishes the complete works of Robert Musil at Rowohlt.

BibliographyDie Verwirrungen des Zglings Trle (The Confusions ofYoung Torless, 1906), later made into a movie Der jungeTrlessVereinigungen (1911) (Unions a collection of two short stories)Die Schwrmer (1921)Vinzenz und die Freundin bedeutender Mnner (1924)Drei Frauen (1924) (Three Women a collection of three short stories)Nachla zu Lebzeiten (1936) (Posthumous Papers of a Living Author a collection of short prosepieces)ber die Dummheit (1937)Der Mann ohne Eigenschaften (The Man Without Qualities, 1930, 1933, 1943, published in twovolumes)

References^ a b He was baptized Robert Mathias Musil and his name was officially Robert Mathias Edler von Musilfrom 22 October 1917, when his father received a hereditary title of nobility Edler, until 3 April 1919, whenthe use of noble titles was forbidden in Austria.

1.

^ "Virtual Vienna Net The Great Austrian Writer Robert Musil" (http://www.virtualvienna.net/main/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=299&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0).Virtualvienna.net. 15 April 1942. Retrieved 10 February 2013.

2.

^ Gray, Sadie. The Times http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/the_tls/article6836668.ece |url= missing title (help).

3.

^ Robert Musil, Precision and Soul: Essays and Addresses, trans. Burton Pike and David S. Luft (Chicago: Uof Chicago P, 1995).

4.

Wikiquote has quotationsrelated to: Robert Musil

Wikimedia Commons hasmedia related to RobertMusil.

^ a b Peter L. Stern & Company, Inc. "Book Details: MUSIL, ROBERT, Der Mann Ohne Eigenschaften (TheMan Without Qualities)" (http://www.sternrarebooks.com/details.php?record=24963). Peter L. Stern &Company, Inc. Retrieved 26 October 2011.

5.

^ Wikipedia. "Der Mann ohne Eigenschaften: Ausgaben" (http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Der_Mann_ohne_Eigenschaften&stable=0&shownotice=1&fromsection=Ausgaben#Ausgaben). Wikimedia Foundation Inc. Retrieved 26 October 2011.

6.

^ a b Freed, Mark M. (5 May 2011). Robert Musil and the Nonmodern; A note on Musil's texts(http://books.google.com/books?id=5aOK_5wfOVwC&pg=PR11) (1 ed.). New York: The ContinuumInternational Publishing Group. pp. xi. ISBN 1-4411-2251-6.

7.

^ Der Monat 026/1950, pp. 185189, on www.ceeol.com8. ^ Markus Kreuzwieser http://www.sbg.ac.at/exil/lecture_5023.pdf9. ^ The Man Without Qualities (2 volume set). "The Man Without Qualities (2 volume set): Robert Musil,Burton Pike, Sophie Wilkins: 9780394510521: Amazon.com: Books" (http://www.amazon.com/Man-Without-Qualities-set/dp/0394510526). Amazon.com. Retrieved 10 February 2013.

10.

^ Smiley, Jane (17 June 2006). "Robert Musil: The Man without Qualities" (http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2006/jun/17/featuresreviews.guardianreview28). The Guardian.

11.

Further readingStefan Jonsson, Subject Without Nation: Robert Musil and the History of Modern Identity(Durham and London: Duke University Press, 2000).Patrizia C. McBride, The Void of Ethics: Robert Musil and the Experience of Modernity. Evanston,Ill.: Northwestern University Press, 2006.Philip Payne, Graham Bartram and Galin Tihanov (eds), A Companion to the Works of RobertMusil (Rochester, NY: Camden House, 2007).B. Pike, Robert Musil: An Introduction to His Work, Kennikat Press, 1961, reissued 1972.Thomas Sebastian, The Intersection f Science And Literature in Musil's 'The Man Without'(Rochester, NY: Camden House. 2005).

External linksComprehensive site in Dutch and English(http://www.xs4all.nl/~jikje/) by J. van BeersThe website of the Robert Musil Literature Museum(http://www.musilmuseum.at/)"Exhuming Robert Musil: A Fresh Look at The Man

Without Qualities (http://www.greatbooksguide.com/Musil.html) by Ted Gioia (Great BooksGuide)

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Robert_Musil&oldid=642010093"

Categories: 1880 births 1942 deaths People from Klagenfurt 19th-century Austrian people20th-century Austrian people Austrian dramatists and playwrights Austrian novelistsAustrian people of German Bohemian descent Austrian people of Czech descentAustrian people of Hungarian descent Austrian Protestants Austrian short story writersAustro-Hungarian military personnel of World War I Burials at Cimetire des RoisConverts to Protestantism from Roman Catholicism Czech Austro-Hungarians Edlers of AustriaExilliteratur writers Modernist writers Humboldt University of Berlin alumni Kleist Prize winners

This page was last modified on 11 January 2015, at 13:35.Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional termsmay apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia is aregistered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.