| On
the Mountain | This novel appeared after Bernhard's death
but is chronologically the first. Written in 1959. I have to admit, I haven't
read this one yet though the Afterword by the translator Sophie Wilkins is enjoyable
and instructive. Maybe it instructed me not to bother reading it ... |
| Gargoyles | Translated
from the German "Verstörung" which means something like "Confusion",
this novel was published in 1967. Easily available in University
of Chicago Press paperback. |
| The
Lime Works | Novel from 1970, a remarkable technical
and artistic achievement, whatever that means. About a scientist who abuses his
disable wife in a deserted lime works. A comedy. |
| Walking | 1971
novella newly published in translation by Conjunctions
magazine. The link goes to an extract. See also Three Novellas. |
| Correction | 1975.
A long, dense novel. The review by George Steiner in the TLS first brought Bernhard's
name to prominence in the UK and USA. I've never seen the review in any of his
essay collections. However, he does provide a short introduction in the Vintage
edition, one where he reveals his own misreading of Bernhard's "monotone
of hate". Poor old George. This is being reissued in March 2003. |
| Yes | 1978.
Short novel with a wonderful, contra-Joycean ending. Neat paperback from the University
of Chicago Press. |
| The
Cheap-eaters | 1980. A rather forgettable
short novel, available only in hardback from the excellent Quartet publishers.
|
| Gathering Evidence | 1981-82.
A substantial collection of five small books of memoirs. Breathtaking. Being reissued
in March 2003. |
| Concrete 
| 1982.
A great short novel in the admirable but no longer extant Quartet Encounters imprint.
|
| Wittgenstein's
Nephew | 1982. Short memoir/novel. Contains advice for
writers who equate prizes with artistic worth: "a prize is invariably only
awarded by incompetent people who want to piss on your head and who do copiously
piss on your head if you accept their prize." |
| The Loser 
|
1983. One of the best. First part of what Gregor
Hens calls Bernhard's Trilogy of the Arts. This one, according to him,
is "about" music. My copy has a black cover with a picture of Glenn
Gould, the great Canadian pianist, who features in the novel. 
Part
of James Wood's review of the novel. This from a man who admires Vikram Seth's
soap-novel A Suitable Boy. You might just be able to guess what my reaction to
the review was at the time. He now works for the US terror cheerleaders at the
New Republic. |
| Cutting
Timber: an irritation | 1984. Second
part of that trilogy. "About" the theatre. Also translated as "Woodcutters".
|
| Old
Masters: a comedy 
|
1985. Third part of said trilogy. "About" painting. Includes famous
long attack on Heidegger: "that ridiculous Nazi philistine in plus-fours". |
| Extinction 
| 1986.
The outstanding, valedictory novel. |
| The
Voice Imitator | 104 stories in 104 pages. Here
are seven including the title track, as it were. |
| Histrionics | Three of
Bernhard's many plays. |
| Heldenplatz | The
final play, condemned as an insult to Austria by former UN Secretary General,
Austrian President, and Waffen SS Officer Kurt Waldheim. I wonder if he wears
plus-fours? Also published in Conjunctions
magazine, translated by Gitta Honegger. She has also written a biography published
by Yale. |
| The Joiner | A short
story that features in a Penguin book "Parallel Text: German Short Stories
2". Translated literally, it says. |
| The
Lunatics The Inmates | A poem. |
Three
Novellas | Amras, Playing Watten and
Walking published in June 2003 by the University
of Chicago. |