SOURCE: "Unrelenting Style," translated by J. McC, in Robert Walser Rediscovered: Stories, Fairy-Tale Plays, and Critical Responses, edited by Mark Harmon, University Press of New England, 1985, pp. 153-68.

Here, in an essay originally published in German in 1983, German novelist and dramatist Martin Walser examines the tone and irony in many of Robert Walser's works. He also describes the author's influences.

Shall we enroll our author forever among the ranks of the so-called controversials? We know that is no longer necessary. Those who understand have compared him with Shakespeare, Mozart, Schubert. That he is a classic is admitted today even by those who do not much care for him. Especially by them, perhaps. So they can be rid of him. Apparently there is no need to fear that anyone will actually read him. From the man who did the very fine translation of Jakob von Gunten into English, I...