The title of the great novel "The Man Without Qualities" is known to everyone, yet the author remains as enigmatic more than sixty years after his death as he was throughout his life. In Herbert Kraft's brilliantly written book, it becomes clear how Robert Musil's life and work complement each other; the engagement with this century's writer is elevated to a new level. Concise and lucid, Kraft illuminates Musil's world, alleviating the reader's fear of the greatness of his work and making it comprehensible for us today: a portrait of a life filled with the passion for writing.