Der violette Tod, und andere Novellen

A quirky anthology of short fiction invites listeners into a world where the ordinary twists into the uncanny. Across the collection, everyday settings—boats, cafés, laboratories—become stages for strange rituals, dark humor, and the occasional flicker of the supernatural. Meyrink’s compact narratives balance crisp dialogue with surreal details, offering a taste of early‑twentieth‑century Central European eccentricity that feels both timeless and oddly contemporary.

The first story bursts onto the scene at a boisterous rowing club, where the crew’s captain delivers a litany of absurd prohibitions—no smoking, no coffee, and, most bafflingly, no love. Characters like Rudi “the Sulzfisch” and the flamboyant steersman Pepi chase after record times while juggling nonsensical orders and a parade of oddly dressed spectators. Their frantic banter and the clamor of oars create a lively, slightly chaotic tableau that hints at deeper mysteries lurking beneath the surface of the water.