Der violette Tod, und andere Novellen

Meyrink’s collection unfolds a kaleidoscope of uncanny vignettes, each set in a world where the everyday is tipped on its side. In “Das dicke Wasser,” a raucous rowing club becomes a stage for absurd commands, drunken banter, and a cryptic race that blurs sport with ritual. The atmosphere is dense with Viennese slang and a palpable tension between camaraderie and hidden dread, inviting listeners to wonder what lies beneath the surface of a seemingly ordinary pastime.

The remaining stories shift mood and setting with equal daring. From the eerie curiosity of a mysterious urn in “Die Urne von St. Gingolph,” to the feverish paranoia of “Das Fieber,” and the surreal road‑trip of “Das Automobil,” each tale blends dark humor, mysticism, and a touch of the grotesque. Together they form a compact yet richly textured journey through the strange corners of early twentieth‑century imagination, perfect for anyone who enjoys a literary adventure that feels both familiar and oddly otherworldly.