In 1905 the young Swiss writer Robert Walser arrived in Berlin to join his older
brother Karl, already an important stage-set designer, and immediately threw hi
mself into the vibrant social and cultural life of the city. Berlin Stories coll
ects his alternately celebratory, droll, and satirical observations on every asp
ect of the bustling German capital, from its theaters, cabarets, painters' galle
ries, and literary salons, to the metropolitan street, markets, the Tiergarten,
rapid-service restaurants, and the electric tram. Originally appearing in litera
ry magazines as well as the feuilleton sections of newspapers, the early stories
are characterized by a joyous urgency and the generosity of an unconventional g
uide. Later pieces take the form of more personal reflections on the writing pro
cess, memories, and character studies. All are full of counter-intuitive images
and vignettes of startling clarity, showcasing a unique talent for whom no detai
l was trivial, at grips with a city diving headlong into modernity.
