Subject
Swiss fiction (German) Books
Best books
Robert Walser
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.
Jakob Schaffner
Der Dechant von Gottesbüren : $b Roman
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Robert Walser
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.
Robert Walser
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.
Robert Walser
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.
J. C. (Jakob Christoph) Heer
Nick Tappoli
"Nick Tappoli" by J. C. Heer is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story unfolds in the small town of Eglisau, Switzerland, and revolves around the lives of its residents, particularly focusing on the lives of the Tappoli family and their relations with others in the community. Central to the narrative are the characters Ulrich Junghans, a young boy with aspirations and dreams, and Nick Tappoli, the supportive and lively daughter of the local pastor. The opening of "Nick Tappoli" sets the scene in the picturesque town of Eglisau during a time of social transformation, as the community grapples with changes in trade and daily life brought about by the advent of railways. The author introduces key characters and their backgrounds, detailing Ulrich's ambitious yet misguided flight attempt that results in injury and reflects on his relationships with his family, especially his burgeoning feelings for Nick. As Ulrich navigates the challenges of adolescence, feelings of frustration and affection intertwine, establishing the coming-of-age themes that will likely develop throughout the novel. The narrative captures the spirit and turmoil of childhood dreams, familial duty, and the realities of life within a close-knit community.
Robert Walser
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.
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