Five stars for writers but four for most of us. Robert Walser may be as important for his influence on some other fine writers, mainly German ones, as for his own works. His short stories perhaps represent his best writing. His life history adds to the enjoyment of reading these stories.

Walser was a German-speaking Swiss born in 1878. His mother was mentally disturbed, a brother was mentally ill and died middle-aged in a mental home, and another brother killed himself three years later. Walser performed mandatory military service in the First World War.

Walser worked irregularly, moved around, and became something of a loner. He enjoyed long walks alone throughout his life. Perhaps his best short story here is about a thoughtful walk, and most are in the same contemplative and somewhat discursive mode.

His fiction is likened to Kafka's, though I don't see it, except as first-person accounts of modest, honest, observant and intelligent persons without a molecule of ego. They read much differently, though both wrote with extreme care not immediately obvious. Walser's protagonists and language are playful and reflective, sometimes addressing the reader. A fast reading will miss most of the charm.

In 1929 Walser experienced an episode diagnosed as schizophrenia (voices) but recovered quickly in an institution. Later he went back to the institution, perhaps voluntarily after finding life easier there; his works after 1925 had proved largely unprofitable and went publicly unrecognized outside Switzerland until the 1970's. Although deemed recovered, he refused to leave the Swiss institution from 1933 to 1956, when he died of a heart attack in the snow on Christmas day during his last walk. ( )

i honestly don't want to return this. and i honestly may not. ( )

I finally finished the complete book. I did like it. But I really do believe Susan Bernofsky makes Walser come alive in ways that Middleton, the translator of this particular book, for one reason or another, is unable to accomplish. I would love to re-read a Bernofsky translation of this same book, however. She did translate "The Walk" which is also included in this selection and it is very very good. ( )

I read most of the book, but the translator and I just do not get along too well. I really do believe Susan Bernofsky makes Walser come alive in ways that Middleton, the translator of this particular book, for one reason or another, is unable to accomplish. So, on we go. I would re-read a Bernofsky translation of this same book, however. I know she is working on "The Walk" as we speak. ( )

I recommend reading Walser with [author: franz kafka] & [author: bruno schulz]. ( )