Author
Robert Walser
1878-1956
Robert Walser (1878-1956) is a public-domain author available on Rivro. Read free books, explore subjects, and discover related classics.
WikipediaSubjects
Books by Robert Walser
Geschwister Tanner
"Geschwister Tanner" by Robert Walser is a novel written in 1906. Twenty-year-old Simon Tanner drifts through jobs and life, searching for his place in the world. He moves from bank clerk to bookseller to nurse, rejecting stability and security. His accomplished siblings—a teacher, a scholar, a painter, and a brother in an asylum—watch as Simon embraces aimlessness over ambition. Through encounters with lovers, employers, and family, he chooses the present moment over any promised future.
Kleine Dichtungen
"Kleine Dichtungen" by Robert Walser is a collection of short stories and pieces written in the early 20th century. The work reflects on themes of individuality, society, and the beauty of simple moments, often through the lens of a contemplative narrator. The stories frequently explore the inner thoughts and desires of characters, providing a rich and intimate understanding of their experiences. At the start of the collection, the narrator engages in a letter to an admirer, detailing his unconventional nature and discomfort with societal norms. He humorously declines the request for a meeting, explaining his preference for the simplicity and authenticity of life outside the polished salons of the social elite. This sets the tone for the subsequent stories, which convey a sense of longing and introspection, portraying everyday experiences—such as a midday break under an apple tree and reflections on beauty found in nature. The initial pieces suggest a focus on the contrasts between societal expectations and personal desires, hinting at a deeper exploration of existential themes throughout the collection.
Der Spaziergang
"Der Spaziergang" by Robert Walser is a narrative written in 1916 and published in 1917. The story follows a writer-narrator through encounters during a seemingly simple walk that leads both into the woods and to practical errands at the bank and tax office. Through meetings with strangers, reflections on nature, and observations of everyday details, the tale explores themes of perception, economic precarity, and the creative life. Walser's associative style elevates the trivial while addressing deeper questions through seeming casualness.
Aufsätze
"Aufsätze" by Robert Walser is a collection of prose pieces published in 1904. Through the persona of gymnasium student Fritz Kocher, Walser presents satirical essays on parents, poverty, friendship, and ambition. Fritz observes class divisions with sardonic detachment, dreams of exotic professions while rejecting conventional paths, and navigates school life under a peculiar teacher. The collection also includes character studies of a clerk and a painter, exploring themes of art, isolation, and the artist's struggle between creative calling and human connection.
Jakob von Gunten: Ein Tagebuch
"Jakob von Gunten: Ein Tagebuch" by Robert Walser is a novel written in 1908. Presented as a diary, it follows young Jakob, who abandons his wealthy family to enroll in a bizarre Berlin servant school. There, under the enigmatic Benjamenta siblings, students endlessly memorize lessons in subservience while learning almost nothing practical. Jakob navigates strange power dynamics, forbidden attractions, and his own rebellious pride within the institute's oppressive yet dreamlike atmosphere, where reality and fantasy blur in unsettling ways.
Prosastücke
"Prosastücke" by Robert Walser is a collection of prose pieces written in the early 20th century. The work reflects on various themes associated with everyday life, human relationships, and the delicate intricacies of emotions and experiences. Through his charming and at times melancholic observations, Walser captures the essence of human existence and the beauty found in simple moments. The opening of "Prosastücke" sets the stage with vivid imagery of a serene summer evening by a lake, showcasing people leisurely strolling along the shore. Walser's lyrical language evokes a sense of atmosphere, as he describes the charm of the night, the presence of loving couples, and the enchanting sounds of music that fill the air. In subsequent narratives, the prose explores relationships, longing, and the complexity of feelings—such as love intertwined with literary influences—painting a nuanced picture of human interaction against the backdrop of nature and societal norms. Each vignette invites readers to reflect on the profound yet ordinary aspects of life, promising a thought-provoking journey through Walser's unique lens.
Der Gehülfe
"Der Gehülfe" by Robert Walser is a novel written in 1907 and published in 1908. Twenty-four-year-old Joseph Marti takes a position as assistant to Carl Tobler, an inventor living in a lakeside villa with his family. Over six months, Joseph witnesses the slow unraveling of the household as Tobler's inventions fail to find buyers and debts mount. Between garden parties and business trips, the gap widens between the family's elegant lifestyle and their desperate financial reality.
Geschichten
"Geschichten" by Robert Walser is a collection of short stories written in the early 20th century. The book offers playful, lyrical vignettes that blend irony, tenderness, and daydream with quick shifts between art, love, nature, and city life. Recurring figures include self-regarding poets, a roving page, stage folk, and flâneurs, all hovering between illusion and the everyday. The opening of the collection moves from six miniature pieces—mocking a poet’s self-importance, personifying memory as a fragile lute, staging a charged piano lesson, and trapping artists inside their own imaginations—to a longer tale in which the shabby mandolin-player Simon becomes page to the alluring Klara and brazenly faces her looming husband. Next come two sharp fables: a threadbare “genius” who reshapes the world only to remain unhelpable, and an upside-down world of social reversal swallowed at last by divine negation. Subsequent sketches pivot between stage and street: a spent clown eclipsed by an angelic boy dancer, a too-perfect “puppet” city dismissed as unreal, a rapturous swim on a small lake, a panoramic account of a forest fire and civic frenzy, a melancholy Sunday park stroll, and an armchair voyage to Moscow that dissolves back into a quiet room. The sequence also includes a harrowing theater conflagration with a stoic rescuer, a sensual Maria Stuart monologue, and a bustling “Lustspielabend” in a playhouse that ends mid-scene.
The Battle of Sempach
"The Battle of Sempach" by Robert Walser is a historical account written in the early 20th century. This narrative recounts a significant military conflict, specifically focusing on the Battle of Sempach, which took place in the late 14th century. Through vivid and expressive prose, Walser captures the chaotic and brutal nature of war while also exploring themes of heroism and the absurdities of military life. In the story, a military expedition, led by the noble Duke Leopold of Austria, makes its way toward the town of Sempach, ultimately engaging in a ferocious battle with local peasants. The narrative paints a compelling picture of both the knights and the herdsmen, detailing the heavy burden of armored warriors who become increasingly vulnerable in the heat of combat. Amidst the chaos, moments of dark humor and absurdity arise as the young knights engage in casual banter, oblivious to the impending violence. As the battle unfolds, the knights, despite their armor and noble status, are brutally overwhelmed, leading to tragic consequences and illustrating the futility and horror of war. The story culminates in a sobering reflection on the aftermath of the battle, where heroes are remembered but the everyday grind of life continues unabated.
Die Schlacht bei Sempach
"Die Schlacht bei Sempach" by Robert Walser is a historical narrative written in the early 20th century. This work recounts the events surrounding the Battle of Sempach, a significant conflict from the late medieval period, emphasizing the chaos and tragedy of war. The narrative style combines vivid imagery with a satirical approach to the nature of knighthood and the futility of battle. The story unfolds during a hot summer day as an army, led by Duke Leopold of Austria, marches toward Sempach. The writing captures the elaborate and almost carefree atmosphere of the soldiers as they anticipate battle, juxtaposing their jovial interactions with the grim reality of war. As the battle commences, the initially composed knights are thrust into a brutal and chaotic struggle against the peasant forces. The narrative highlights the absurdity and brutality of their conflict, illustrating the downfall of the noblemen who are ultimately overwhelmed. It concludes with the aftermath of the battle, where the victors and the slain reflect on the stark realities of life and death, conveying a poignant commentary on the nature of glory and the human cost of warfare.