Summary of The AssistantÂ
Joseph Marti is the assistant to Carl Tobler, a flamboyant Swiss engineer who invents machines that nobody wants to buy or license. Although Joseph sees his master’s bankruptcy coming closer by the day, he enjoys the sumptuous meals and garden parties at his master’s villa and the stunning mountain views over Lake Zurich.
Reasons to read The Assistant
“The Assistant” is a psychological yet light-hearted novel about an inventor’s unsuccessful business ventures and his assistant’s attempts to keep creditors at bay. Robert Walser, a German-language Swiss writer, is now considered one of Switzerland’s greatest authors, despite being largely underrated during his lifetime. Other notable works by Walser include “Jakob von Gunten”, “The Tanners”, and his “Berlin Stories”.
Setting: Lake Zurich (Switzerland)
Novel set in Switzerland: Bärenswill, a fictional village inspired by Wädenswill on Lake Zurich.
Original title: Der GehĂĽlfe
Year of publication: 1908
Nr of pages: 304
