—
h1
box 36/6
1ansOfforints
185
Early Works of Arthur Schnitzler
Rundschau, a semi-monthly magazine edited by Dr. J. Joachim
o ch
and E. M. Kafka. Referring to this period, in an article
entitled" Ibsen in Wien,?'“ Hermann Menkes relates that
Schnitzler usually made his appearance in the Café Griensteidl
in the company of the elegant Richard Beer-Hofmann, and that
these two were generally joined by Loris (Hugo von Hof¬
mannsthal), Felix Dörmann, and the critics Felix Salten and
Richard Specht. It was at this time, Menkes states, that the
young publisher Eduard Kafka transplanted his newly founded
periodical from Brünn to Vienna and transformed it into the#
leading organ of the new literary and artistic movement.
Unfortunately, however, it had so few subscribers that the
contributors were obliged to make both literary and financial
contributions to its support. On certain days the“Jung¬
Wiener'’ assembled in the editorial room of the joumal to
make their decisions.
Schnitzler’s first literary contributions were four book
reviews. 55 The authors of these books have long since passed
into oblivion, and it seems unnecessary to revive their memory.
We are interested solely in the reviewer’s comments, and these
are mostly ironically destructive. Thus he writes of a collection
of short stories: Die zwei ersten Geschichten sind langweilig
und überdies recht schlecht geschrieben. Dabei ein faden¬
scheiniger Humor, der kindlich sein will und dabei immer nur
kindisch ist. Of a drama he remarks:" Die Sprache konnte
uns mit dem tragikomischen Stoff nicht versöhnen; sie ist
innerlich hohl wie das Stück selbst. Of another play he says:
Wir bedauern lebhaft, daß wir in diesem von allen den ge¬
nannten Vorzügen auch nicht einen zu entdecken vermochten.“
And finally of another collection of novelettes: Zuweilen hört
man von einem literarisch wertlosen Buche als von guter
Unterhaltungslektüre sprechen. Für das Vorliegende wäre auch
das des Lobes zu viel. Banale Stoffe, seicht behandelt—das
gilt für diese Novellen und Skizzen von der ersten bis zur
letzten. Quite characteristic of the later Schnitzler is the
54 Neues Wiener Journal, July 23, 1917.
# Moderne Rundschau, Vol. III, April 15, 1891, p. 84 and p. 86; June 15, 1891,
him at
p. 243.
Iti81
—
G
1
80
h1
box 36/6
1ansOfforints
185
Early Works of Arthur Schnitzler
Rundschau, a semi-monthly magazine edited by Dr. J. Joachim
o ch
and E. M. Kafka. Referring to this period, in an article
entitled" Ibsen in Wien,?'“ Hermann Menkes relates that
Schnitzler usually made his appearance in the Café Griensteidl
in the company of the elegant Richard Beer-Hofmann, and that
these two were generally joined by Loris (Hugo von Hof¬
mannsthal), Felix Dörmann, and the critics Felix Salten and
Richard Specht. It was at this time, Menkes states, that the
young publisher Eduard Kafka transplanted his newly founded
periodical from Brünn to Vienna and transformed it into the#
leading organ of the new literary and artistic movement.
Unfortunately, however, it had so few subscribers that the
contributors were obliged to make both literary and financial
contributions to its support. On certain days the“Jung¬
Wiener'’ assembled in the editorial room of the joumal to
make their decisions.
Schnitzler’s first literary contributions were four book
reviews. 55 The authors of these books have long since passed
into oblivion, and it seems unnecessary to revive their memory.
We are interested solely in the reviewer’s comments, and these
are mostly ironically destructive. Thus he writes of a collection
of short stories: Die zwei ersten Geschichten sind langweilig
und überdies recht schlecht geschrieben. Dabei ein faden¬
scheiniger Humor, der kindlich sein will und dabei immer nur
kindisch ist. Of a drama he remarks:" Die Sprache konnte
uns mit dem tragikomischen Stoff nicht versöhnen; sie ist
innerlich hohl wie das Stück selbst. Of another play he says:
Wir bedauern lebhaft, daß wir in diesem von allen den ge¬
nannten Vorzügen auch nicht einen zu entdecken vermochten.“
And finally of another collection of novelettes: Zuweilen hört
man von einem literarisch wertlosen Buche als von guter
Unterhaltungslektüre sprechen. Für das Vorliegende wäre auch
das des Lobes zu viel. Banale Stoffe, seicht behandelt—das
gilt für diese Novellen und Skizzen von der ersten bis zur
letzten. Quite characteristic of the later Schnitzler is the
54 Neues Wiener Journal, July 23, 1917.
# Moderne Rundschau, Vol. III, April 15, 1891, p. 84 and p. 86; June 15, 1891,
him at
p. 243.
Iti81
—
G
1
80