Biography

1880 – 1901

1880 On november 6 Robert Musil is born in Klagenfurt. Father Ingenieur Alfred Musil, mother Hermine.
1881-1882 The Musils move to Komotau, Bohemen.
1882-1891 The Musils move to Steyr (Oberostereich). Robert attends the Volksschule and the first grade of the ‘Realgymnasiums’.
1891-1892 Moves to Brunn. Attends the ‘Realschule’.
1892-1894 Attends the Militaer-Unterrealschule in Eisenstadt.
1894-1897 Attends the Militaer-Oberrealschule in Maehrisch-Weisskirchen (the present-day Hranice in the Czech Republic) During his working with attileries Musil discovers his interest in technique.
1897 Attends the Technische Militaerakademie in Vienna.
1898-1901 Quits the officer training en starts his studies at the Technical University of Brunn. His father has been a professor here since 1890. First literary attempt, and first diary notations.
1901 Phd-exams.

1901-1920

1901-1902 Musil enlists in the infantry-regiment of Freiherr von Hess Nr. 49 in Brunn
1902-1903 Moves to Stuttgart to work at the University. Works on his first novel Die Verwirrungen des Zogling Torless
1903-1908 Takes up a philosophy study; his majors are ‘logics and experimental psychology’.
1905 In his diaries he makes the first notes that will eventually lead to Der Mann ohne Eigenschaften.
1906 Die Verwirrungen des Zogling Torless is published. Developed an apparatus to research colour experience in people.
1908 Beitraege zur Beurteilung der Lehren Machs is the title of his doctoral thesis with which he promotes in philosophy, natural science and mathematics. Declines an offer to upgrade his last military rank to an equal civilian rank in favour of writing.
1908-1910 Works in Berlin as an editor for the magazine “Pan” and on his Vereinigungen and Die Schwaermer.
1911-1914 Bibliophil at the Technical University of Vienna.
1911 On April 15 Musil marries Martha Marcovaldi. Vereinigungen is published.
1912-1914 Editor for several literary magazines, among which the “Die Neue Rundschau”.
1914-1918 During the first World War Musil is an officer at the Italian front. Decorated several times.
1916-1917 July-April: publishes the “Soldaten-Zeitung”.
1917 On october 22 Alfred Musil is ennobled. This nobility is hereditary: thus, Musil will be belong to the nobility to his death (Robert Edler von Musil).
1918 Takes up writing again.
1919-1920 Works for the Information Service of the Austrian foreign department in Vienna.
1920 April-June: lives in Berlin. Meets Ernest Rowohlt who will become, in 1923, his publisher and will remain so.

1920-1929

1920-1922 Advisor for army matters in Vienna.
1921-1931 Works as theater-critic, essayist and writer in Vienna. Works on Der Mann ohne Eigenschaften.
1921 The play Die Schwaermer is published.
1923-1929 Is vice-president of of “Schutzverbandes deutscher Schriftsteller in Ostereich”. Meets Hugo von Hofmannsthal, who is president of the foundation.
1923 Is awarded the Kleist award for Die Schwaermer. On december 4 Vinzenz und die Freundin bedeutender Maenner is premiered in Berlin.
1924 On january 24 his mother and october 1 his father die. Awarded the Art-price of the city of Vienna. Drei Frauen is published.
1927 Holds a speech on the occasion on the death of Rainer Maria Rilke in Berlin.
1929 April 4 premiere of Die Schwaermer. In spite of protests by Musil, the play is shortened and therefore incomprehensible, according to Musil. In the autumn awarded the Gerhart-Hauptman award.

1930 – 1942

1930 The first two parts of Der Mann ohne Eigenschaften are published. In spite of critical support, the financial situation is precarious.
1931-1933 Lives and works in Berlin.
1932 Foundation of a Musil-Gesellschaft by Kurt Glaser in Berlin. The foundation aims to provide Musil with the necessary means to continue working on his novel. At the end of the year the third part of Der Mann ohne Eigenschaften is published.
1933 In May Musil leaves, with his wife Martha Berlin. Via Karlsbad en Schloss Potstejn they eventually reach Vienna.
1934-1938 After the dismantling of the Berlin Musil-Gesellschaft, a new one is founded in Vienna.
1935 Lecture for the “Internationalen Schriftstellerkongress fuer die Verteidigung der Kultur” in Paris.
1936 Publishes his collection of thoughts, observations and stories Nachlass zu Lebzeiten. Musil suffers a stroke.
1938 Via Northern Italy Musil and his wife in augustus flee to Zurich. In Germany and Austria his books are banned.
1939 Moves to Geneva. Musil Continues to work on his novel under the worst financial circumstances, and grows lonlier with his exile. Thanks to the Zurich vicar Robert Lejeune Musil receives some financial support, among others from the American couple Henry Hall and Barbara Church.
1942 April 15 Musil dies in Geneva. An unmarked grave remains.
1943 Martha Musil publishes the unfinished remains of Der Mann ohne Eigenschaften on her own account.