Franz Grillparzer (1791–1872)

Grillparzer (1791-1872) is perhaps Austria’s most famous dramatist and was named its national poet. He left only two prose works, including this one. This is a novella, partly autobiographical, set in nineteenth-century Vienna. The narrator meets a destitute fiddler whose passion in playing music is both concealment and exposure for the tragedy of his life. Most of the novella is the fiddler’s retelling of that story. The story is said to have been prized by both Stifter and Kafka and, though I don’t want to overrate it, this is a very moving tale about creativity and the place of art in our lives and even society and it is filled with pathos. It's a classic and clearly so for good reason.… (més)

The story is allegedly based on some events in the life of Ferdinand Kauer (1751 – 1831). Kauer was a musician, composer, Kapellmeister working in Vienna. The Danube flooded in March of 1830 and Kauer’s works were largely lost in the waters. If I was not a strong reader, I would not have gotten very far into this story because the opening is so irrelevant and dull, and written in such a strangely unnecessarily esoteric way. I really like this story because unlike so many stories, this one feels very realistic. This is the story of our lives. This is the reality of the human condition.

Now, the ending is hard-hitting. By the ending I do mean the last two sentences – not just the overall wrap-up of the novella. I think one of the reasons is that it is very realistic/relatable and incredibly possible.… (més)