356. The Man Without Qualities

The Man Without Qualities
Robert Musil
1930-1943
Around 1775 pages

Would you believed this is unfinished? Apparently, 1775 pages wasn't enough to make his point. Sigh. I don't really think there is such a thing as "an unfinished masterpiece." Part of what makes it a masterpiece is the brilliant conclusion. Writing endings is damn hard, and you don't get a pass just because you died.

I'll do my best to be succinct (somebody should be around here!). Ulrich is our Man Without Qualities. He is a mathematician, and is like an amoral Oblomov. He floats his way through several Austrian historical events, meeting "interesting" characters along the way. Thankfully, the supporting characters have more qualities than he does.

I had read this before, because I read that Musil is the Austrian Anthony Powell, who in turn is the British Marcel Proust. But I think Proust and Powell had a much clearer idea of what they wanted to say. It's fairly directionless, and Ulrich is a dull protagonist. That's what happens when you pride yourself on the ordinariness of the main character.

Way, way too long. You'll be crying Onkel before the first 100 pages are done.

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

Musil worked on the novel for over 20 years.

Musil spent the last decade of his life feeling bitter and unrecognized, as his writing didn't bring him any money. That's just being a writer, Musil.

In the German edition, there is even a CD-ROM available that holds thousands of pages of alternative versions and drafts. There is no end to human suffering.

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