I read The Man Without Qualities, Volume One by Robert Musil.
Ulrich graduates from a private school, joins the military, quits the military, becomes an engineer, then a mathematician. Now thirty years old, he returns to his home town where his father, a well-respected government official, has secured a job for him on the board of a committee to plan a celebration, called the Parallel Campaign, of the Austrian Emperor's 70th anniversary.
Ulrich's distant relative, Diotima, is also on the committee. She has big ideas and wants to infuse the Parallel Campaign with them. Diotima's servant, Rachel, is thrilled to be part of a household where such important people visit and eavesdrops on the meetings.
The first meeting of the Parallel Campaign begins with controversy because Diotima invites a Prussian named Arnheim without anyone's knowledge. Placing a foreigner on the council expands the breadth of the Campaign beyond Austria's borders. Vice Count Leinsdorf suggests 'Emperor of Peace' as a symbol, in contrast to Germany's imminent war machine, and gives an opening address. Diotima opens the floor for discussion but no one speaks nor understands what is involved in planning an historic event.
Bogus rumors that the Parallel Campaign is accomplishing great things reaches Ulrich's father who implores him to convince Count Leinsdorf to promote certain legislature. Leinsdorf rarely reads the literature important to the Parallel Campaign and calls the council vain and useless because it accomplishes nothing. Ulrich does not want to admit that his and Diotima's grand ideas are impossible to attain.
Ulrich's childhood friend, Walter, is a musician and painter who never reaches his potential. Clarisse attaches herself to Walter because of his genius and marries him. Though not as naturally gifted as Walter, she drives herself to learn to paint and play music and now plays better than he. Walter accuses his wife of being in love with Ulrich, naming him a man without qualities. She denies it but admits to herself that her light shines brightest when Ulrich is near. She accuses him of being jealous of Ulrich's talent, tells him she doesn't want to be with him and leaves. Ulrich returns home that same night and sees his lights are on. He suspects a burglar but finds Clarisse. She tells him she wants to be with him but he rejects her.
Ulrich receives a telegram that his father has died. He rises early the next morning and goes to the train station.
Musil died before he completed Volume Two. In it, the Parallel Campaign plans a world peace congress. Ulrich withdraws from the council to settle his father's estate. His sister, Agathe, is introduced and Clarisse is institutionalized.
