When I started reading this story I realized this is the same guy who wrote the book that "Eyes Wide Shut" is based on! I read that story when the movie came out thought it wasn't good then. I'll have to re-read it.

Anywho, this story is in the first person entirely taking place in the mind of Lieutenant Gustl.  Gustl is spending time in the city when a man comes up to him, holds down his sword and threatens to take the sword out of the holster and break it in half.  This causes Gustl to spend the rest of the day agonizing about the event and deciding to kill himself.  

Overall the way the book is written and the fact that it takes place over a 24 hour period make it somewhat interesting.  Only because the "1001 Books you Must read before you die" list has so many duds does this book seem better in my estimation.