Musil, Robert (1880–1942)

Austrian novelist. He was the author of the unfinished Der Mann ohne Eigenschaften/The Man without Qualities (three volumes; 1930–43). Its hero shares the author's background of philosophical study and scientific and military training, and is preoccupied with the problems of the self viewed from a mystic but agnostic viewpoint. Musil's analytic exploration of the motivation and the subconscious mind of his characters is reminiscent of James Joyce, though in no way derivative.

He was born in Klagenfurt. He studied engineering and philosophy and was employed as a civil servant but left his job 1922 to become a full-time writer in Berlin. He returned to Austria to live in Vienna 1933 but withdrew to Switzerland at the Anschluss 1938. His other works include Die Verwirrungen des Zöglings Torless/Young Torless 1906, Vereinigungen/Unions 1911, and Drei Frauen/Three Women 1924. He also wrote two not very successful plays and some essays.