Cover of Old Masters: A Comedy

Old Masters: A Comedy

by Thomas Bernhard · 1985

+ Want to read

In this exuberantly satirical novel, the tutor Atzbacher has been summoned by his friend Reger to meet him in a Viennese museum. While Reger gazes at a Tintoretto portrait, Atzbacher—who fears Reger's plans to kill himself—gives us a portrait of the musicologist: his wisdom, his devotion to his wife, and his love-hate relationship with art. With characteristically acerbic wit, Bernhard exposes the pretensions and aspirations of humanity in a novel at once pessimistic and strangely exhilarating.

Genre
literary fictionliterary fictionMore like thisLess of thishumorhumorMore like thisLess of this
Themes
artartMore like thisLess of this
Setting
1980s1980sMore like thisLess of thisGermanyGermanyMore like thisLess of thisViennaViennaMore like thisLess of thisAustriaAustriaMore like thisLess of thisEuropeanEuropeanMore like thisLess of this
Subject
philosophyphilosophyMore like thisLess of thisbiographybiographyMore like thisLess of this
Audience
adult
Length
short · 156 pages

Click a tag to see books like this one that share it. Point at it (on a phone, tap it) for less of it instead.

Read it? Sign in to help tag it.

BuyAmazonGoogle Books

BorrowOpen LibraryA library near you

MoreCompare pricesHardcover

Liked Old Masters: A Comedy? Here’s where I’d start.

These suit anyone who liked Old Masters: A Comedy. Sign in and mark a few books for picks shaped around your own taste.

  1. The Goalie's Anxiety at the Penalty Kick Peter Handke · 1970 Shares Austria, german, fiction
  2. Malina Ingeborg Bachmann · 1971 Shares Austria, german, fiction
  3. Lust Elfriede Jelinek · 1989 Shares fiction, Austria, german
  4. The Last World Christoph Ransmayr · 1988 Shares german, fiction, Austria
See more recommendations →

“People who read Old Masters: A Comedy tend to reach for these next.”

  1. The Eternal Philistine Odon von Horvath · 2014
  2. Indian Summer Adalbert Stifter · 1857
  3. Lieutenant Gustl Arthur Schnitzler · 1900
  4. Last Days of Mankind Karl Kraus · 1918

“If you want more of the same (literary fiction about art), start with these.”

  1. The Piano Teacher Elfriede Jelinek · 1983
  2. Night Work Thomas Glavinic · 2006
  3. The Road into the Open Arthur Schnitzler · 1908
  4. Who Is Martha? Marjana Gaponenko · 2012

“If it was the Austria that hooked you, try one of these.”

  1. Natura Morta: A Roman Novella Josef Winkler · 2001
  2. The Left-Handed Woman Peter Handke · 1976
  3. Dream Story Arthur Schnitzler · 1926
  4. Fräulein Else Arthur Schnitzler · 1924

“These start from a similar idea, even if they go somewhere else with it.”

  1. The Bridal Chair Gloria Goldreich · 2015
  2. The Miniature Wife and Other Stories Manuel Gonzales · 2013
  3. Mythology and the Individual Joseph Campbell · 1996
  4. The Hound in the Left-Hand Corner Giles Waterfield · 2002

Report a problem