Peter Altenberg Collection

Peter Altenberg was born Richard Engländer in Vienna 1859 as son of Jewish middle-class parents, but later he converted to Christianity. He never managed to finish university even though he began studies of law, then medicine, then a training as bookseller and then again law studies. He also never held a permanent job and was finally diagnosed as unfit for a regular job because of an overly sensitive nervous system. In the 1880s he moved out of his family home and began leading a bohemian life, spending the day in coffee houses, borrowing money and sleeping in various places. He did most of his writing in coffee houses, in an impressionist style. In 1896, Altenberg published his first book which was comprised of short pieces about the everyday life of people from various social classes. His book was favorably received and helped him establish a reputation as a significant author. Ten more books followed throughout his life. He died at the age of 59 in Vienna in 1919. Read more