Literature

Peter Altenberg

1859-1919

Chronology

1859  
Peter Altenberg is born Richard Engländer into a middle class family in Vienna on March 8

1878
Receives his Matura from the Theresianum on his second attempt and studies law at the University of Vienna in accordance to his father’s wishes.

1879
Switches to medicine, which he suddenly abandons in order to start an   apprenticeship as bookseller in Stuttgart

1880
Returns to Austria and continues his law studies at Graz

1882
Due to a nervous condition, Altenberg is termed unfit for work by a physician

1886
Moves away from his family into his own place, beginning of his lifelong restlessness

1890-94
Frequent visitor of Café Griensteidl

1896
Publishes Wie ich es sehe, which is received favorably

1898-99
Theater critic for Extrapost            

1900
Leaves the mosaic church and converts to Catholicism

1902-03
Moves into the Hotel London

1905
Altenberg’s brother goes bankrupt, Altenberg loses his monthly stipend, receives support from his fellow writers

1906
Publishes Prodromos

1908
Launches a huge fundraising campaign for his 50th birthday

1909
Suffers from depression and hypochondria, is committed to the Fango Institute in Vienna

1910-11
Spends twelve months at the asylum Inzersdorf due to a severe mental crisis

1912-13
Is committed to the Nervenheilanstalt Am Steinhof in Vienna, world premiere of Alban Berg’s Fünf Orchesterlieder nach Ansichtskarten von Peter Altenberg op.4, the performance ends prematurely

1919
Dies of pneumonia on January 6 in Vienna