Der Mörder: Eine Novelle

by Arthur Schnitzler

"Der Mörder: Eine Novelle" by Arthur Schnitzler is a novella written in 1910. Alfred, a wealthy young Viennese lawyer, pursues marriage with Adele while secretly maintaining a relationship with Elise, his fragile mistress. When Adele's father demands he take a year-long journey abroad, Alfred brings Elise along—but views her worsening heart condition as an obstacle to his ambitions. As Alfred's callous manipulation escalates into something darker, he believes he can secure the future he desires. But fate has other plans for this calculating protagonist.