AUSTRIA

21st CENTURY LITERATURE

 CULTURE AND TRADITION
• Austria is a country with rich history and culture. Here are some of its notable traditions and customs:

• 1. Music: Austria is known for its contribution to the world of music. Great classical composers such as Mozart, Strauss, Schubert, and Haydn were from Austria. Music festivals like the

Salzburg Festival and Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra are popular in the country.

• 2. Attire: Traditional clothes like Dirndl and Lederhosen are seen in the Alpine regions of Austria. Dirndl is a dress while Lederhosen is leather shorts and suspenders for men.

• 3. Wine: Austria is famous for its wine-making, especially in the Wachau region in the Danube valley. Grüner Veltliner and Riesling are some of the best-known varieties.

• 4. Christmas traditions: Christmas is an important celebration in Austria. Advent markets, called Christkindlmarkt, are common in many cities. St. Nicholas visits homes with gifts and

sweets for children on December 6th.

• 5. Food: Austrian cuisine has German, Hungarian, and Italian influences. Schnitzel, Apfelstrudel (apple strudel), and Sacher Torte (chocolate cake) are some of the must-try dishes.

• 6. Easter traditions: Easter is also a significant event in Austria. Easter Sunday is celebrated with a special meal, and Easter eggs are decorated with natural dyes.

• 7. Sporting events: Austria has a strong winter sports culture, as it has hosted many skiing and snowboarding events. Sports like soccer and ice hockey are also popular in the country. In

conclusion, Austria's culture and traditions are diverse and unique. Its historical contributions to music and art, coupled with its great cuisine and traditions, make it a remarkable

destination for tourists to visit.

 FOODS IN AUSTRIA
• FOODS IN AUSTRIA
• Viennese Apfelstrudel: Austrian National Food.
• Wiener Schnitzel: Fried Delight.
• Vienna Sausage: Austrian Authenticity.
• Knödel: Flavorful Dumpling.
• Tafelspitz: Boiled Beef.
• Tiroler Gröstl: Tradition Inspired.
• Käsespätzle: Cheesy Delight.
• Potato Gulasch: Tasty Treat.
 WHAT IS THE FESTIVAL IN
AUSTRIA
• Vienna Festival Weeks (Wiener Festwochen)

The ultimate Austrian festival, Vienna Festival Weeks is a six-week-long cultural event that
takes over the capital for five or six weeks in May and June. The inaugural event in 1951
was an effort to prove Austria's cultural antecedents in the wake of World War II
 FAMOUS LANDMARKS IN AUSTRIA

• 1. Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna

• The Schonbrunn Palace was the summer residence of the Austrian imperial family, the Habsburg. The gardens,

the building, and the interiors are exquisite and really worthy of a visit. In fact, this UNESCO heritage site (since

1996) is the most visited landmark in Austria.

• Built in the 17th century, it was designed by the architects Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach and Nicolaus

Pacassi in a remarkable Baroque and rococo style. The interiors are full of outstanding examples of decorative art

in a rococo, opulent style with huge paintings, silk wallpapers, plush carpets, and gold leaf. There are 1 440

rooms in the palace, but less than 50 are open to the public.

• The Schonbrunn complex also includes gardens, a Palm House, a maze, the gloriette, and Europe’s oldest zoo

(founded in 1752). As a whole, the Schonbrunn is one of the most impressive monuments in Europe.
Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna, the iconic Austrian Landmark
• #2 Hofburg Palace, Vienna

• The Hofburg Palace has been the seat of power in Austria since 1279, so it has a rich history that
can’t be experienced anywhere else. If the Schonbrunn was the Summer Palace, the Hofburg was
the winter palace of the Habsburg. Today is the home and workplace of the president of Austria.
Located in the center of Vienna, it was first built in the 13th century as a castle/fortress and later
expanded several times over the centuries.
• Also called the imperial palace, it has more than 2600 rooms and occupies 20 hectares. Inside the
Palace are the lavishly decorated imperial apartments, the Sisi Museum, and the opulent silver
collections. The Spanish riding school is also on the palace grounds, but we will talk about it
below. Visitors have the opportunity to peek into Austria’s Imperial past, allowing the opportunity
to understand one of the most influential families in European history.
Inside Hofburg Palace in Vienna, one of the most famous landmarks in Austria
• #3 Spanish Riding School, Vienna

• As we said above, the Spanish Riding School is technically part of the Hofburg Palace, but it deserves its own heading. The entrance is completely

separate, and you’ll need a different ticket too. This Austrian institution is dedicated to the preservation of classical dressage and the training of

Lipizzaner horses.
•  
• Located between Michaelerplatz and Josefsplatz, the Winter Riding School was built between 1729–1735 in Baroque style. Designed by architect
Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach, the riding hall was
• meant for aristocratic boys to learn how to ride, but now it is a stunning Austrian Landmark that serves as the setting of this classic Austrian tradition.
• Top of Form
•  
• Bottom of Form
• The best way to visit this beautiful building is by buying a ticket to witness the training and performances by the stallions and enjoy both the building
and the show.
Spanish Riding School, Vienna
• #4 Kunsthistoriches Museum, Vienna
• By Noel Morata from Travel Photo Discovery

• Visiting Vienna is incomplete without seeing the Kunsthistoriches Museum or the Museum of Art in the inner ring of Vienna’s

historic district. Housing a collection of the finest art and treasures, including master paintings of Titian, Caravaggio, Rembrandt,

and Veronese, along with a slew of Spanish, Dutch, Italian, and Flemish painters.
• The museum has most of the impressive treasures and collections of the Imperial Hapsburg dynasty that truly dazzles visitors. The
luxurious rooms are filled with an armory, paintings, antiquities, jewels, and special exhibits. You can easily spend days just
exploring everything from Egyptian and Eastern Art, Greek and Roman treasures to the Medieval time frame and onto Renaissance
and Baroque extravagance all throughout the expansive galleries that go on and on into different timeframes. Even the opulent
gold, silver, and bejeweled treasures, gifts, and decorations in their treasure galleries boggles the mind, seeing all the impressive
Hapsburg collections to show off their wealth and power to the rest of Europe. 
• For any art, culture, or history lover, visiting the Kunsthistoriches Museum is a must-do experience in Vienna. It is one of the most
incredible assortments of collections and art you’ll see in all of Europe. If you are spending more time in Vienna and exploring,
check out this post on 10 things you should be doing in Vienna here for inspiration and what to see and do in the city now.
Painting of Pieter Brueghel | photo from from Trael Photo Discovery
• #5 Prater Amusement Park, Vienna
• The historical amusement park Prater in Vienna has a long history of fun. It was originally an Imperial hunting
ground, then opened to the public in 1766. Prater amusement park is in the Leopoldstadt area of the city, and it has
many rides for visitors to enjoy, the Wiener Riesenrad and Prater Turm being the most popular.

• The Ferris Wheel at Prater amusement park is an iconic ride surrounded by fun things to do. This Ferris Wheel is

called The Wiener Riesenrad and has an interesting history. They built Wiener Riesenrad in 1897. However, between

1920 and 1985, it was the world’s tallest. To this day, it is still one of the most popular tourist attractions in Vienna.

Visitors can enjoy a quick ride or enjoy an extended meal onboard and soak up the views. The Wiener Riesenrad also

has a visual museum showcasing the area’s history. This is in the form of lifelike models of the park.
• Prater Turm is 117 meters tall, the swinging carousel opens up some fantastic panoramic city views. This is a
relatively young ride in the park, opening in 2010.
• Entertainment is the name of the game at Prater. You can visit Madame Tussauds, enjoy the fairground rides or enjoy
refreshments. Prater Amusement Park is a splendid night out.
The Ferris Wheel at Prater amusement park | photo from RJOnTour
The Hundertwasserhaus, Vienna | photo from lemons and luggag
• #7 Belvedere Palace, Vienna

• By Sam Glauser from My Flying Leap

• 

• “The Belvedere” is a property with two splendid Baroque palaces built as a summer residence for Prince Eugene. It was designed to be Austria’s

version of the Château of Versailles. The Lower Belvedere, built at the bottom of a slope, was completed in 1716, and the Upper Belvedere was

completed in 1724. 

• There are also a number of other magnificent Baroque structures on this property, including the Winter Palace, the Palace Stables, and the Orangery.

The Orangery was built as a heated structure for the palace’s orange trees, with a roof that can be removed in the summer. They all now serve as

exhibition halls and are home to one of the country’s most important art collections featuring Austrian art from the 19th and 20th centuries, medieval

art, and the Austrian Baroque period. The artwork is as spectacular as the palaces.

• It’s easy to see this exquisite property by bus, tram, subway, and train, and it’s within walking distance of Vienna’s city center. People go not only to

see the beautiful palaces and other structures on the property but also to visit the stunning gardens, fountains, and sculptures. Visiting Belvedere

Palace is a must-see and one of the most popular things to do in Vienna.

The Belvedere Palace in Austria | photo by from My Flying Leap
• #8 St. Stephens Cathedral, Vienna
• By Or from My Path in the World
• Probably one of the most famous landmarks in Austria’s capital city, Vienna, St. Stephen’s Cathedral is a
must-see monument located in the heart of the city center.
• The cathedral dates back to the 12th-15th centuries (each part was built in a different century) and is
Vienna’s most important religious building. It has hosted royal weddings like Louis II of Hungary & Mary
of Austria and Ferdinand I & Anne of Bohemia and Hungary. It is also the burial place of royals like
Emperor Friedrich III, Prince Eugene of Savoy, and Duke Rudolph IV.
•  
• Beyond its undeniably beautiful Gothic and Romanesque architecture, one of its most notable features is
its colorful tiled roof. It is covered by 230,000 tiles showcasing the symbols of the Habsburg empire and
the coat of arms of Vienna and Austria. If you climb up its southern tower, you can look closer at them
and enjoy scenic views over the city.
• The cathedral also has a few legends and myths connected to it, including one that says Beethoven
discovered he was completely deaf when he observed birds flying away from the bell tower yet could not
hear the bells’ sound. Occasionally, the cathedral also hosts Beethoven concerts.
St. Stephens Cathedral in Vienna | photo from My Path in the World
• #9 Vienna State Opera
• By Nicholas from Rambling Feet
• While the Wiener Staatsoper (Vienna State Opera) is not a UNESCO Heritage Site, the
Ringstrasse it stands on is, and it was the first major building on the boulevard. The Austrian
Emperor Franz Joseph I funded the building and was built in the neo-Renaissance style by Josef
Hlavka. It is not difficult to find too, being on the southern edge of the Innere Stadt The Ring
tram is the cheapest way (apart from walking) to get there–alight at the tram stop of the same
name.
• It is one of the world’s most famous opera houses and, pre-Covid-19, ran a schedule of 350
performances a year. Numerous renowned conductors and composers like Richard Strauss and
Gustav Mahler have walked these hallways. Catching an opera performance is often high on the
agenda for many visitors to Vienna due to its fame and the quality of its productions.
• Tickets sell out quickly to locals and tourists alike. However, if you’re willing to tough it out and
sacrifice a few hours of sightseeing, a standing room is available on a first-come, first-served
basis. If it’s all new to you, reading up on the opera you’re catching or buying a program in the
foyer will help you follow it. Whether seated or standing, the Wiener Staatsoper experience will
be memorable!
Vienna State Opera – Landmarks Austria
• #10 Salt Mines, Salzburg
• By Džangir Kolar from Dr Jam Travels
•  
• Salzburg is a city in northwest Austria bordering Germany. It has a rich history and incredible
architecture and is the birthplace of Mozart. The source of wealth that funded city development
is hidden in its name, Salzburg – Salt castle. The area around Salzburg is full of ‘white gold.’
• The underground sea from which the water has long since evaporated after the tectonic activity
has lifted significant salt deposits as mountains. 2500 years ago, Celts started digging for salt,
and the mines were the source of salt until 1989. In medieval times they realized it was easier to
pump water into small holes they dug and, six weeks later, pump out the brine. After boiling it,
only salt was left.
• This enabled mass production, and the city flourished in the baroque time. You can see how
mines operated and other details connected to salt mining in the Hallein mine at Bad Dürrnberg.
It is 15 kilometers outside the city center, accessible by train or bus in half an hour. A fun tour
starts with a ride on a simple train through one of the tunnels. You go to the lower levels via
giant wooden slides on your behind. Finally, there is a boat ride across an underground lake.
 FAMOUS PERSONALITIES IN AUSTRIA

• From Mozart and Sisi to Hedy Lamarr – Austria's sons and daughters have left their mark
across music, art, science, politics, and sport. Find out which famous personalities originate
from or lived in Austria and follow in their footsteps.
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Famous Austrian Composer (1756 - 1791)
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - one of the greatest composers of all times. He created his own
distinct style, blending traditional and contemporary.
 WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART

• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Bust portrait (picture detail), Oil on canvas, Barbara Krafft,
1819
• Sammlungen der Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Wien
• media_content.tooltip.skipped
• Sisi - Austria’s free-spirited Empress
• The 15-year-old Elisabeth, or ‘Sisi,’ was a stunning beauty, radiating a youthful spirit.
Emperor Franz Joseph fell in love with her at first sight, and Sisi’s life changed forever. Who
could have known that trying to defend her spirit and independence became her destiny?
 SISI MUSEUM VIENNA

• Sisi Museum Vienna

• Austrian National Tourist Office / Cross Media Redaktion
• media_content.tooltip.skipped
• Hedy Lamarr, Hollywood Goddess and Lady Bluetooth
• Legendary actress Hedy Lamarr was known in Hollywood as „the most beautiful woman in
the world.” Her career in film started in Vienna, her birthplace. There you can wander in the
footsteps of Hedwig Kiesler, as she was known in her youth.
 HEDY LAMARR, GIRL ON THE MOON

• Hedy Lamarr, Girl On The Moon

• John Kobal Foundation / via Getty Images / Clarence Sinclair Bull
• media_content.tooltip.skipped
• Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis (1856 - 1939)
• Sigmund Freud was an Austrian doctor, neurologist, psychiatrist, and cultural theorist widely
acknowledged as the father of modern psychology and the founder of psychoanalysis.
 SIGMUND FREUD

• Sigmund Freud
• Sigmund Freud Museum
• media_content.tooltip.skipped
• Gustav Klimt, Famous Austrian Painter (1862 - 1918)
• As one of the leading figures of fin-de-siècle Vienna, Gustav Klimt created a body of works
that made him what he is today: the most famous Austrian painter in the world.
 BELVEDERE WIEN

• Belvedere Wien
• media_content.tooltip.skipped
• Joseph Haydn, Famous Austrian Composer (1732 - 1809)
• Haydn is considered the father of the classical symphony and string quartet, and an
innovator in the composition of piano sonatas and trios.
 JOSEPH HAYDN PORTRAIT BY
LUDWIG GUTTENBRUNN

• Joseph Haydn Portrait by Ludwig Guttenbrunn, LMB Music Collection, Haydnhaus

Eisenstadt
• Landesmuseum Burgenland
• media_content.tooltip.skipped
• Bachmann, Ingeborg (1926 - 1973): The novelist, poet and playwright Ingeborg Bachmann
has been recognized as one of post-1945's most important German writers.
• Berg, Alban (1885 - 1935): Austrian composer Alban Berg was a member of the Second
Viennese School with Arnold Schönberg and Anton Webern. He produced compositions that
combined Mahlerian Romanticism with a personal adaptation of Schönberg's twelve-tone
technique.
• Berg, Werner (1904 - 1981): German-born painter Werner Berg was bewitched by the
austere beauty of Austria's southern Carinthia, the picturesque villages and quaint
farmhouses, the barren high Alpine meadows, the luscious orchards down in the valley, and
the hospitality and friendliness of the people.
• Bruckner, Anton (1824 - 1896): Anton Bruckner was an Austrian composer known for his
symphonies, masses and motets.
• Freud, Sigmund (1856 - 1939): Sigmund Freud was an Austrian doctor, neurologist,
psychiatrist, and cultural theorist. He is widely acknowledged as the father of modern
psychology and the founder of psychoanalysis.
• Handke, Peter (born 1942): The avant-garde Austrian playwright, novelist, poet and essayist Peter
Handke is regarded as one of the most influential German-language writers of our time.
• Haydn, Joseph (1732 - 1809): The father of the Viennese Classic, Franz Joseph Haydn, was not
born in Vienna but in the village of Rohrau in the eastern part of Lower Austria on 31 March 1732.
• Hoffmann, Josef (1870 - 1956): Josef Hoffmann was an influential Austrian architect and designer.
He was among the founders of the Vienna Secession and co-establisher of the Wiener Werkstätte. 
• Hundertwasser, Friedensreich (1928 - 2000): Friedensreich Hundertwasser was one of Austria’s
most famous avant-garde artists. His artworks reflect his philosophy, which is based on a
harmonious interaction between nature and man.
• Kálmán, Emmerich (1882 - 1953): Although Hungarian by birth (Siófok, October 24, 1882),
Emmerich Kálmán is one of the great representatives of the Viennese operetta
• Kauffmann, Angelika (1741 - 1807): During the transitional period between the Baroque and the
Neo-classical Ages, the Austrian province of Vorarlberg produced a painter - Angelika Kauffmann -
who was to achieve both fame and popularity far beyond the borders of her homeland.
• Klimt, Gustav (1862 - 1918): The painter Gustav Klimt was born on 14th July 1862 in Baumgarten, a part of today's 14th
district in Vienna. He is considered the main figure of Austria’s Art Nouveau.
• Kogelnik, Kiki (1935 - 1997): Kiki Kogelnik was an Austrian painter, sculptor and printmaker. She studied at the Academy
of Fine Arts in Vienna, moved to New York in 1961, and is considered to be Austria's most important Pop-related artist.
• Kolig, Anton (1886 - 1950): Anton Kolig was born in Nötsch in Gailtal, part of the province of Carinthia. He was an
Austrian expressionist painter whose works were full of power and tenderness.
• Lamarr, Hedy (1914 - 2000): Born as Hedwig Kiesler in Vienna, Hedy Lamarr found fame as the “world’s most beautiful
woman" in 1940s Hollywood. As an inventor, she was involved in the development of a radio guidance system for Allied
torpedoes in WWII which later became the basis for Bluetooth technology.
• Lavant, Christine (1915 - 1973): Christine Lavant, born in Carinthia, was an Austrian poet and novelist. Lavant made her
breakthrough with her collection of poems, "The Beggar's Bowl", in 1956.
• Lehár, Franz (1870 - 1948): Franz Lehár was an Austro-Hungarian composer. He is known for his operettas, of which the
most successful and best known is "The Merry Widow" (Die Lustige Witwe).
• Liszt, Franz (1811 - 1886): More than 200 years ago, Franz Liszt created an entirely new genre of piano music and a
groundbreaking compositional style. Guided by his vision of transporting his ideas out into the world, Liszt soon became a
cosmopolitan due to his extensive concert tours throughout all of Europe, dazzling audiences with his unique performance
style and virtuosity.
• Mahler, Gustav (1860 - 1911): Gustav Mahler was born into a poor Jewish family in the town of Kalište in Bohemia on 7th
July 1860. Mahler's considerable musical talents, which he employed both as composer and conductor, were surpassed only
by his ambition.
• Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus (1756 - 1791) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was one of the greatest composers of all time. He
created his own distinct style, blending traditional and contemporary.
 AUSTRIA NATIONAL COSTUME

• In Austria, the dirndl is a symbol of national identity, seen in Austria as a national symbol. In tourist settings, staff in
offices, restaurants, wineries and shops often wear dirndls as a work uniform; this is also the case in the non-Alpine
regions in the east of Austria.
•  
• A dirndl is a feminine dress which originated in German-speaking areas of the Alps. It is traditionally worn by women
and girls in Austria, Bavaria (southeastern Germany), Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Alpine regions of Italy (
South Tyrol). A dirndl consists of a close-fitting bodice featuring a low neckline, a blouse worn under the bodice, a
wide high-waisted skirt and an apron.
• The dirndl is regarded as a folk costume (German: Tracht). It developed as the clothing of Alpine peasants between the
16th and 18th centuries.[1][4][5] Today it is generally considered the traditional dress for women and girls in German-
speaking parts of the Alps, with particular designs associated with different regions. The usual masculine tracht
counterpart of the dirndl is lederhosen.
• In the late 19th century the dirndl was adapted by the upper and middle classes as a fashion mode, and subsequently
spread as a mode outside its area of origin. There are many varieties of adaptations from the original folk designs. [1]
AUSTRIA TRIVIA

• Austrian actor Helmut Berger, movie star in the 1960s and '70s, dies at 78
• Austrian-born actor Helmut Berger, a European movie star in the 1960s and 1970s who rose
to prominence with roles in films by Italian director Luchino Visconti, died Thursday, his
agent said
• May 18, 2023, 7:07 AM ET (AP)
• Austrian president, government at odds over offering Ukraine demining help
• The president and government of Austria are at odds over whether the country should offer
Ukraine help with civilian demining, with the defense minister and a major opposition party
pointing to concerns over the implications for Austrian military neutrality
• Hallstatt, Austria
• Austria, largely mountainous landlocked country of south-central Europe. Together with 
Switzerland, it forms what has been characterized as the neutral core of Europe,
notwithstanding Austria’s full membership since 1995 in the supranational European Union
 (EU).
• Austria
• A great part of Austria’s prominence can be attributed to its geographic position. It is at the centre of
European traffic between east and west along the great Danubian trade route and between north and south
through the magnificent Alpine passes, thus embedding the country within a variety of political and economic
systems. In the decades following the collapse in 1918 of Austria-Hungary, the multinational empire of which
it had been the heart, this small country experienced more than a quarter century of social and economic
turbulence and a Nazi dictatorship. Yet the establishment of permanent neutrality in 1955, associated with the
withdrawal of the Allied troops that had occupied the country since the end of World War II, enabled Austria
to develop into a stable and socially progressive nation with a flourishing cultural life reminiscent of its
earlier days of international musical glory. Its social and economic institutions too have been characterized by
new forms and a spirit of cooperation, and, although political and social problems remain, they have not
erupted with the intensity evidenced in other countries of the Continent. The capital of Austria is historic 
Vienna (Wien), the former seat of the Holy Roman Empire and a city renowned for its architecture.
• Austria
• Austria is bordered to the north by the Czech Republic, to the northeast by Slovakia, to the east by Hungary, to the south by 
Slovenia, to the southwest by Italy, to the west by Switzerland and Liechtenstein, and to the northwest by Germany. It extends
roughly 360 miles (580 km) from east to west.
• Relief
• Mountains and forests give the Austrian landscape its character, although in the northeastern part of the country the Danube River
 winds between the eastern edge of the Alps and the hills of Bohemia and Moravia in its journey toward the Alföld, or Hungarian
 Plain. Vienna lies in the area where the Danube emerges from between the mountains into the drier plains.
•  
• The Austrian Alps form the physical backbone of the country. They may be subdivided into a northern and a southern limestone
range, each of which is composed of rugged mountains. These two ranges are separated by a central range that is softer in form and
outline and composed of crystalline rocks. The Alpine landscape offers a complex geologic and topographical pattern, with the
highest elevation—the Grossglockner (12,460 feet [3,798 metres])—rising toward the west. The western Austrian Länder (states)
of Vorarlberg, Tirol, and Salzburg are characterized by the majestic mountains and magnificent scenery of the high Alps. This high
Alpine character also extends to the western part of the state of Kärnten (Carinthia), to the Salzkammergut region of central
Austria, and to the Alpine blocks of the state of Steiermark (Styria).
• 1. Franz Kafka (1883 - 1924)
• With an HPI of 86.23, Franz Kafka is the most famous Austrian Writer.  His biography has been translated into 159 different
languages on wikipedia.

• Franz Kafka (3 July 1883 – 3 June 1924) was a German-speaking Bohemian novelist and short-story writer based in Prague, who

is widely regarded as one of the major figures of 20th-century literature. His work fuses elements of realism and the fantastic. It

typically features isolated protagonists facing bizarre or surrealistic predicaments and incomprehensible socio-bureaucratic

powers. It has been interpreted as exploring themes of alienation, existential anxiety, guilt, and absurdity. His best known works

include the novella The Metamorphosis and novels The Trial and The Castle. The term Kafkaesque has entered English to describe

absurd situations like those depicted in his writing.Kafka was born into a middle-class German-speaking Czech Jewish family in

Prague, the capital of the Kingdom of Bohemia, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (today the capital of the Czech

Republic). He trained as a lawyer, and after completing his legal education was employed full-time by an insurance company,

forcing him to relegate writing to his spare time. Over the course of his life, Kafka wrote hundreds of letters to family and close

friends, including his father, with whom he had a strained and formal relationship. He became engaged to several women but

never married. He died in obscurity in 1924 at the age of 40 from tuberculosis. Kafka was a prolific writer, spending most of his

free time writing, often late in the night. He burned an estimated 90 per cent of his total work due to his persistent struggles with

self-doubt. Much of the remaining 10 per cent is lost or otherwise unpublished. Few of Kafka's works were published during his

lifetime: the story collections Contemplation and A Country Doctor, and individual stories (such as his novella The

Metamorphosis) were published in literary magazines but received little public attention. In his will, Kafka instructed his close

friend and literary executor Max Brod to destroy his unfinished works, including his novels The Trial, The Castle, and Amerika,

but Brod ignored these instructions and had much of his work published. Kafka's writings became famous in German-speaking

countries after World War II, influencing their literature, and its influence spread elsewhere in the world in the 1960s. It has also

influenced artists, composers, and philosophers.

 STEFAN ZWEIG (1881 - 1942)

• With an HPI of 78.92, Stefan Zweig is the 2nd most famous Austrian Writer.  His biography has been translated
into 80 different languages.
• Stefan Zweig (; German: [ˈʃtɛ.fan ͡tsvaɪ̯ k] (listen); 28 November 1881 – 22 February 1942) was an Austrian writer. At
the height of his literary career, in the 1920s and 1930s, he was one of the most widely translated and popular writers
in the world.Zweig was raised in Vienna, Austria-Hungary. He wrote historical studies of famous literary figures, such
as Honoré de Balzac, Charles Dickens, and Fyodor Dostoevsky in Drei Meister (1920; Three Masters), and decisive
historical events in Decisive Moments in History (1927). He wrote biographies of Joseph Fouché (1929), Mary Stuart
(1935) and Marie Antoinette (Marie Antoinette: The Portrait of an Average Woman, 1932), among others. Zweig's
best-known fiction includes Letter from an Unknown Woman (1922), Amok (1922), Fear (1925), Confusion of
Feelings (1927), Twenty-Four Hours in the Life of a Woman (1927), the psychological novel Ungeduld des Herzens
(Beware of Pity, 1939), and The Royal Game (1941). In 1934, as a result of the Nazi Party's rise in Germany, Zweig
emigrated to England and then, in 1940, moved briefly to New York and then to Brazil, where he settled. In his final
years, he would declare himself in love with the country, writing about it in the book Brazil, Land of the Future.
Nonetheless, as the years passed Zweig became increasingly disillusioned and despairing at the future of Europe, and
he and his wife Lotte were found dead of a barbiturate overdose in their house in Petrópolis on 23 February 1942;
they had died the previous day. His work has been the basis for several film
 ROBERT MUSIL (1880 - 1942)

• With an HPI of 70.15, Robert Musil is the 5th most famous Austrian Writer.  His biography

has been translated into 58 different languages.
• Robert Musil (German: [ˈʁoːbɛʁt ˈmuːzɪl]; 6 November 1880 – 15 April 1942) was an
Austrian philosophical writer. His unfinished novel, The Man Without Qualities (German:
Der Mann ohne Eigenschaften), is generally considered to be one of the most important and
influential modernist novels.
 . PAULA HITLER (1896 - 1960)

• With an HPI of 67.94, Paula Hitler is the 10th most famous Austrian Writer.  Her biography

has been translated into 30 different languages.
• Paula Hitler, also known as Paula Wolff and Paula Hitler-Wolff, (26 January 1896 – 1 June
1960) was the younger sister of Adolf Hitler and the last child of Alois Hitler and his third
wife, Klara Pölzl.
•