Robert Musil (1880 - 1942) was an Austro-Hungarian novelist and essayist, known for his masterpiece "The Man Without Qualities." He was born on November 6, 1880, in Klagenfurt, Austria, during the era of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. Musil, influenced by the philosophical and cultural currents of his time, stood out for his keen observation of society and his profound psychological analysis. His most famous work, "The Man Without Qualities," is a monumental novel that examines the decadence of European society on the eve of World War I. Musil addressed themes such as alienation, the search for meaning, and the crisis of traditional values, establishing himself as a precursor of existentialism.