A companion to the works of Arthur Schnitzler

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This volume of specially commissioned essays offers a fresh perspective on Arthur Schnitzler, the Viennese Jewish dramatist and prose writer whose prolific career coincided with the final phase of the Habsburg monarchy. He recognized the threat of racist anti-Semitism to the assimilation of Austrian Jews earlier than many contemporaries. His works delve into the conflict between emerging feminism and the prevailing misogynistic discourse, reflecting the collapse of traditional social structures during the Habsburg era and the challenges faced by the nascent republic. In the 1950s, Schnitzler's literary legacy became a model for Viennese Jewish intellectuals born after the Shoah, and his exploration of gender relations, role expectations, and casual sex continues to captivate audiences today. His significance in contemporary European culture is underscored by the ongoing popularity of his works, including Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of Traumnovelle into the film Eyes Wide Shut. This Companion volume features a team of international scholars who examine Schnitzler's dramas and prose through contemporary critical lenses, set against the backdrop of Austria's multicultural society during a time of profound change.