Statement of Purpose

The Musil Institut is a quixotic attempt to recognize Washington, D.C. as a major European capital. As such, it celebrates the secular values of postmodern Europe and proudly promotes great European literature. With a host of distinguished luminaries, it offers ascendancy to an exalted milieu of thoughtful, intellectual, mature writers including Zbigniew Herbert, Elias Canetti, and, of course, Robert Musil.

Musil was a student of Ernst Mach, a scientific titan of his time, before becoming a writer. As such, he represents the perfect marriage of science and art and his writings are of unparalleled precision.

Here he is among friends and like minds.

Here, where fin de siecle Vienna meets fin de siecle Washington, Mr. Cogito, Monsieur Songe, Mr. Palomar, and Monsieur Teste meet the Man Without Qualities


Musil Institut
6915 6th Street NW
Washington, DC 20012
(202) 723-5893
FAX (202) 726-3245
jharris@worldweb.net