Elisabeth (“ Elisa” or “ Elise”) Walser, born Marti
* 7. March 1839, † 22. October 1894
Grows up as a half-orphan in the Bernese Emmental, resident in Schangnau, works as a domestic help for her sister in Biel from 1861/1862. Meets Adolf Walser there; their marriage in 1868 produces eight children. Works in her husband's business and suffers from the family's economic worries and social decline. After she falls mentally ill, the eldest daughter Lisa has to take over the care of her mother and the household. Dies in 1894 after a long illness.
Literary traces in Der Teich (written 1902); Geschwister Tanner (1907); Das Grab der Mutter (1914); Der Handelsmann (1916); Das Bild des Vaters (1916); Nach dem heimatlichen Dorf(e) (1924); “Felix”-Szenen (written 1925); Zeitweise betrieb meine teure Mutter eine Epicerie (written 1928); Die Kindheit (1933).
From: Robert Walser-Handbuch, ed. by Lucas Marco Gisi, 2015, p. 16