The Man Without Qualities by Robert Musil. Set in pre WWI Vienna. It’s a three volume unfinished novel full of brilliant writing, much of which should appeal to the crowd here.
And Heimito von Doderer.
His stories, novellas. The Last Adventure.
But, as introduction or a summary of a Fin de siecle Vienna that was a progenitor of XXth century and "proving ground for the destruction of the world", start with
Allan Janik, Wittgenstein: Vienna Revisited. Wonderfully succint and comprehensive overview.
But, as introduction or a summary of a Fin de siecle Vienna that was a progenitor of XXth century and "proving ground for the destruction of the world", start with Allan Janik, Wittgenstein: Vienna Revisited. Wonderfully succint and comprehensive overview.