Happy Times, Brittle World

Robert Menasse

1991

Leo was planning to ask his father for money to get his car fixed, perhaps as a birthday present, even though he was sure his parents already had a present for him. Since the family’s return to Vienna, he had always received the same thing, with downright religious monotony; they never asked him what he wanted as a gift. For Christmas and his…

Please login or register for free access to Posen Library
Register
Already have an account?
Engage with this Source

Creator Bio

Robert Menasse

b. 1954

Robert Menasse is an Austrian novelist, literary critic, essayist, and translator. A major literary figure in the German-language world, his work often concerns the theme of alienation. From 1981 to 1986 he was a lecturer at the University of São Paulo. His first poem was published in 1989 in the journal Literatur und Kritik, and since 1993 he has been a member of the Austrian PEN Club.

You may also like

Painting depicting man and woman at a restaurant table as their server stands between them.
Tooltip info icon

At the Restaurant

Though Benjamin-Eugène Fichel is better known for his historical paintings set in the eighteenth century, in this painting he documents modernity itself. Here a wealthy couple orders a meal in a…
View Source

Driving Miss Daisy

Daisy:Honestly, Boolie. Are you trying to irritate me in the middle of an ice storm?She hangs up the phone. Light out on her. Boolie stands a moment in wonder. Light out on him. In the dark we hear…
View Source

Among the Wild Things

In the past few years, I have become increasingly interested in Sendak’s work, reading his books for my own pleasure as well as for the amusement of my…
View Source