Although in the second half of the 20th century, a large number of exceptional writers emerged from the Austrian Republic, their relationship to the cultural mainstream was stormy: Thomas Bernhard went so far as to refuse to allow his plays to be performed in Austria after his death. This collection is an excellent opportunity to sample a rich literature that remains central to European culture. Contributors: H.C. Artmann, Ingeborg Bachman, Konrad Bayer, Thomas Bernhard, Heimito von Doderer, Lillian Faschinger, Antonio Fian, Erich Fried, Peter Handke, Peter Henisch, Elfriede Jelinek, Gert Jonke, Werner Kofler, Alfred Kolleritsch, Meta Merz, Georg Pichler, Elisabeth Reichart, Doron Rabinovici, Robert Schindel, Sabine Scholl, Margit Schreiner, Brigitte Schwaiger