¹ For the sake of brevity, the contents of this volume have been gathered under the term short stories, although many of the included texts are usually referred to as novellas or short novels. Discussions as to the differences between a short story and novella become quite technical and are more subtle than questions of length or date of origin. Generally, the descriptive term novella appeared long before “short story” was used (Friedrich Schlegel, writing in 1801, contributed the first theory of the novella in German). Both terms continue to be used, however, interchangeably in many cases. (See History of the German Novelle by E. K. Bennett and revised by H. M. Waidson, Cambridge University Press, 1961.)

² A large administrative district.

³ One of the principal bylina heroes.

⁴ Chile was never a kingdom; in 1647, when an earthquake did occur, it was a Spanish colony, part of the viceroyalty of Peru; the viceroy resided in Lima.

⁵ A popular play by Victorien Sardou and others, 1893.

⁶ Latin for “on the spot.” The use of the phrase does not indicate scholarship on Gustl’s part.

⁷ Men in the service for one year with a certificate of educational proficiency.

⁸ An athlete and wrestler popular in Vienna at the time.

⁹ A village near Vienna; pun with “Fisch am End”—“a fish at the end of its rope.”