Peter Altenberg (1859–1919)

Sonnenuntergang im Prater. Fünfundfünfzig Prosastücke. consists of 55 short pieces of prose, selected from almost each period and each publish work by the Austrian author Peter Altenberg. Despite their variety and being written at different times between 1896 and 1913, the collection is remarkably unified, both in themes and style.

During this period, Altenberg lived the life of a Bohemian, spending his days in the coffee houses of Vienna. This period of the late Nineteenth Century and first decade of the Twentieth Century is known as the Belle Epoque, and marks the waning days of Vienna as the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Double Monarchy, which came to an end with the Great War. Thus, the title of the collection seems well-chosen: "Sonnenuntergang im Prater" or in English "Sunset in the Prater".

However, the story "Sonnenuntergang im Prater" ("Sunset in the Prater") was written in 1896; it should not be understood in a symbolist way. The work of Peter Altenberg can best be described as impressionistic. The short prose pieces are each descriptions of life in Vienna as observed by the author in those years.

Sie waren stundenlang im Grabenkiosk gesessen, letzter Augusttag, hatten Fiaker betrachtet mit Fremden, Automobile, wie Zugvögel von fernen Reisen, Damen auf dem Trottoire, die wunderbar sicher dahinglitten, und andere, die trippelten und tänzelten, um etwas Besonderes aus sich zu machen.

The work of Altenberg presents a complete picture, a glimpse into the life in Vienna at the time of the Secession. There are descriptions of people ("seltene Exemplare von Menschlein für ihre innerliche Käfersammlung"), traffic -- horse-drawn carriages as well as automobiles, parks and tree-lined boulevards, colours, scents, moods and the arts, painters and musicians. The work also captures the decadence and exotic, such as the pieces taken from Ashantee about the black African Aschanti village that was erected and on display for a year in Vienna in 1896 /7.… (more)