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, show more 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. show less

Der arme Spielmann is a novella by the Austrian writer Franz Grillparzer. It was published in 1848, but its origins went back to the 1830s. Grillparzer worked on the novella for more than 10 years. The novella has characteristics of the Romantic period, gthose early decades of the Nineteenth century and Realism, as it describes the poverty of the main character, Jakob. However, the social condition described in the novella is not the result of class or inevitable circumstances, which are show more characteristics of the more sinister Naturalism later in the century.

The novella makes use of a framework. The narrator is a character in the story, who met the main character and relates his story as he was told by the fiddler. The atmosphere of the novella is like a fairy tale, like Grimm or Andersen or one could even think of Dickens's A Christmas Carol. With the latter it shares the idea that the condition of the main character is the result of choice or character. Through his choice for music, Jakob fell out of favour of his rich father, and had to rely of his own effort to scrape out a meagre existence as a musician and tutor. Courting the beautiful Barbara is another failed pursuit in love. In the end, he dies as a hero, after saving the lives of several children during a flood.

Despite his ill fortune and poverty, Jakob takes pride in his livelihood as a musician, even though his art is not appreciated very highly. While sneer was his share in life, in death he is held up as a pathetic hero, and even Barbara sheds a tear.

Source / edition:
Published by the German publisher Insel Verlag, this edition includes the chapter "'Der arme Spielmann'. Der Einbruch der Subjektivitaet" from the book "Wiklichkeit und Illusion. Studien ueber Gehalt und Grenzen des Begriffs Realismus fuer die Erzaelende Dichtung des Neunzehnten Jahrhunderts" by Richard Brinkmann. show less

One of Kafka's favourites, and easy to see why. Melancholic story of a story of a man who disappointed his father and gradually slipped to the margins of society.

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 show more 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. show less