Published in 1918, Flametti is a chaotic, semi-autobiographical novel from Hugo Ball, better known as the founder of the Dada movement in Zurich. It’s a snapshot of a world turned upside down.

The Story

The book follows the misadventures of Flametti, the director of a down-and-out variety troupe. His clowns, singers, and musicians are barely scraping by, performing in shabby venues while often resorting to petty cons to survive. The plot is less a straight line and more a series of chaotic episodes—failed performances, drunken arguments, and desperate schemes. It’s a portrait of artists who are more like hustlers, using performance as a tool for survival in a city filled with refugees and oddballs during World War I.

Why You Should Read It

This isn't a polished story. It’s raw, uneven, and full of life. You can feel Ball’s own experiences bleeding into the page. The real magic is in the characters. They’re infuriating and charming, tragic and ridiculous. They pretend to be artists, but they’re really just trying to eat. Ball captures their manic energy and deep exhaustion perfectly. Reading it feels like peeking behind the curtain of a famous art movement to see the messy, human reality that fueled it.

Final Verdict

Perfect for readers curious about the roots of avant-garde art, or anyone who loves character-driven stories about outsiders. If you enjoy books that are more about mood and ideas than a tight plot, and you don’t mind a bit of literary chaos, Flametti is a fascinating, forgotten gem. It’s a short, intense burst of creative energy from a pivotal moment in art history.