Karl Ettlinger's Mister Galgenstrick: und andere Humoresken is a collection of short, sharp comic stories from early 1900s Germany that deserve a much wider audience. Written in German, these 'humoresques' are snapshots of society, filled with irony, wit, and wonderfully flawed characters.

The Story

There isn't one single plot. Instead, the book is a series of vignettes, with the title story acting as a centerpiece. We meet the charming rogue 'Mister Galgenstrick,' a man whose cleverness often skirts the edges of propriety. The other stories introduce us to a whole cast of ordinary people in extraordinary, or extraordinarily awkward, situations. A bureaucrat tied in knots by his own rules, a romantic encounter that goes hilariously off-script, a perfectly logical plan that collapses under the weight of human unpredictability—Ettlinger finds comedy in the everyday friction between people and the systems they create.

Why You Should Read It

What won me over was Ettlinger's voice. It's not loud or slapstick; it's a raised eyebrow, a knowing smile. He has this fantastic ability to highlight the little hypocrisies and absurdities we all live with. Reading him feels like sharing a private joke. The characters, especially Galgenstrick himself, aren't villains or heroes—they're just people trying to get by, often using their wits in ways that make you chuckle and nod in recognition. The humor isn't dated; it's built on timeless human behavior. You're not just reading about pre-war Germany; you're seeing people you might know, just in different clothes.

Final Verdict

This book is perfect for readers who enjoy clever, character-based humor like the stories of Saki or early P.G. Wodehouse, but with a distinctly Central European flavor. It's also a great pick for anyone curious about early 20th-century literature that isn't heavy or tragic. Each story is short, making it ideal for bedtime reading or a commute. Just be ready for a style of humor that's more about witty observation than punchlines—it's smart, satisfying, and proves that a well-told joke can last a century.