Robert Menasse was born in Vienna in 1954. After studying German, Philosophy and Political Science he taught for seven years at the University of São Paulo in Brazil. He is now a freelance author living in Vienna and Amsterdam. Robert Menasse was chosen to give the opening address at the Frankfurt Book Fair in 1995 when Austria was guest of honour. He has received many prizes for his novels and essays. Previous works include: Sinnliche Gewissheit, 1988 (Meaningful Certainty, Calder Publications 2002); Selige Zeiten, brüchige Welt, 1991 (Wings of Stone, Tr. D.Bryer, Calder Publications 2000); Schubumkehr, 1995; Phänomenologie der Entgeisterung, 1995; Das Land ohne Eigenschaften, 1995; Überbau und Underground, 1997; Erklär mir Österreich, 2000. Translation rights available from Suhrkamp Verlag Lindenstrasse 29-35 D-60325 Frankfurt am Main Tel: +49 69 75 601 233 Fax: +49 69 74 62 64 E-mail: hardt@suhrkamp.de Contact: Petra Christina Hardt Applications for assistance with translation costs - Austria Suhrkamp Verlag was founded in 1950 by Peter Unseld and was joined in 1952 by Dr. Siegfried Unseld. The group now includes Insel Verlag (founded in 1902 in Leipzig), Deutscher Klassiker Verlag (establishes in 1981) and the Jüdischer Verlag (founded in 1902). Suhrkamp focuses on both contemporary literature and the humanitites. Its distinguished list includes leading writers from Germany, Switzerland and Austria, many of whom made their debuts with the firm, besides major international authors including four Nobel Prize winners.