Arthur Schnitzler

The novella is set in Vienna at the beginning of the 20th century. Schnitzler describes the outwardly harmonious marriage of the doctor Fridolin and his wife Albertine. However, both have unfulfilled erotic desires and dreams of which their partner knows nothing. These unspoken needs have led to an estrangement between the spouses, which develops into a marital crisis. Albertine dreams at night that she is giving herself to a stranger. Fridolin, for his part, takes part in a mysterious orgy, which in turn takes place in a dream-like atmosphere. The highly erotically charged experiences of this night threaten to destroy the marriage, but ultimately also serve as a medium for both partners to realise their true needs.
The dream novella was first published in the magazine Die Dame in 1925. Schnitzler's text has been made into a film several times, most recently in 1999 by Stanley Kubrick as 'Eyes Wide Shut' with Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise in the leading roles.