Sämtliche Werke 9: Novellen aus Österreich III

In the summer of 1887 a keen‑eyed narrator introduces Lieutenant Joseph Burda, a mid‑thirties officer of a modest cavalry regiment. Burda is presented as a man of contrasts: disciplined and fair in duty, yet preoccupied with his own appearance, from his slender build to his meticulously curled mustache and striking grey eyes. The prose offers a vivid portrait of military life, where honour, camaraderie, and personal vanity intersect in a world of crisp uniforms and understated rivalry.

Through Burda’s interactions with his subordinates and superiors, the story examines the fragile balance between authority and empathy, hinting at the quiet conflicts that simmer beneath the regiment’s polished surface. The author's careful observation and slightly ironic tone make the novella both a social study of the Austro‑Hungarian officer corps and a subtle meditation on the masks we wear. Listeners will find a richly textured slice of 19th‑century life, rendered in clear, measured language that invites reflection.