title: Understanding Robert Musil (Understanding Modern European and Latin American Literature)
author:  Allen Thiher 
description: Deft analysis of the fiction, theater, and essays of the author of The Man without Qualities
zlib_text: ![](images/00001.jpg)
  
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  Alfred De Musset
  
  
  This page copyright © 2004 Blackmask Online.
  
  
  
  
  
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  # Alfred De Musset
  
  
  ### By Henry James
  
  
  This page copyright © 2004 Blackmask Online.
  
  
  http://www.blackmask.com  
    
  
      
  
  EText by Ian Hillman
  
  
  IT HAD BEEN known for some time that M. Paul de Musset was preparing
  
  
  a biography of his illustrious brother, and the knowledge had been
  
  
  grateful to Alfred de Musset's many lovers; for the author of “Rolla"
  
  
  and the “Lettre à Lamartine” has lovers. The book has at last
  
  
  appeared—-more than twenty years after the death of its hero. It is
  
  
  probably not unfair to suppose that a motive for delay has been removed
  
  
  by the recent death of Mme. Sand. M. Paul de Musset's volume proves, we
  
  
  confess, rather disappointing. It is a careful and graceful, but at the
  
  
  same time a very slight performance, such as was to be expected from
  
  
  the author of “Lui et Elle” and of the indignant refutation (in the
  
  
  biographical notice which accompanie