Subject
Austrian drama -- 19th century Books
Best books
Arthur Schnitzler
Hands Around [Reigen]: A Cycle of Ten Dialogues
"Hands Around [Reigen]: A Cycle of Ten Dialogues" by Arthur Schnitzler is a play written in 1897. Ten characters form an unwitting circle through secret sexual encounters that cross all levels of Viennese society. Each person appears in two consecutive scenes with different partners, creating an interconnected chain of relationships. The play scrutinizes sexual morality and class ideology through dialogues before or after intimate encounters. Considered highly controversial, it was privately printed in 1900 but not publicly performed until 1920, provoking violent reactions and antisemitic attacks against Schnitzler.
Ferdinand Raimund
Das Mädchen aus der Feenwelt; oder, Der Bauer als Millionär
"Das Mädchen aus der Feenwelt; oder, Der Bauer als Millionär" by Ferdinand Raimund is a romantic fairy tale with music premiered in 1826. A fairy's daughter is banished to Earth and must reject all wealth to marry a poor man before her eighteenth birthday. When the simple farmer raising her discovers treasure and becomes corrupted by riches, magical forces intervene. Allegorical figures like Youth, Age, Envy, and Contentment shape the fates of lovers kept apart by greed, teaching lessons about true happiness and the dangers of material wealth.
Ludwig Anzengruber
Der G'wissenswurm: Bauernkomödie in drei Akten
"Der G'wissenswurm: Bauernkomödie in drei Akten" by Ludwig Anzengruber is a peasant comedy written in 1874. Wealthy farmer Grillhofer, recovering from a stroke and fearing death, is tormented by guilt over a sin committed twenty-five years ago. His scheming brother-in-law urges him to renounce his property as penance. When a spirited young woman appears claiming kinship, long-buried secrets about an abandoned child begin to surface, forcing Grillhofer to confront his past and discover unexpected truths about family and redemption.
Hugo von Hofmannsthal
Der Tod des Tizian. Idylle. Zwei Dichtungen
"Der Tod des Tizian. Idylle. Zwei Dichtungen" by Hugo von Hofmannsthal is a lyric drama fragment published in 1892. Set on the final day of Renaissance painter Titian's life, the work depicts his students gathered on a villa terrace as their master lies dying. The young artists celebrate beauty and art while expressing their separation from the city below. As Titian paints one last work, the drama explores the divide between artist and dilettante, and the incompatibility of art and life in fin de siècle society.
Heinrich Joseph von Collin
Balboa: Ein Trauerspiel in fünf Aufzügen
"Balboa: Ein Trauerspiel in fünf Aufzügen" by Heinrich Joseph von Collin is a dramatic play written in the early 19th century. The work revolves around the historical figure Vasco Nunez Balboa and the political and personal conflicts that arise in his pursuit of exploration and acceptance in the face of hostility from the local governor, Pedrarias. The central themes likely touch upon love, honor, betrayal, and the complexities of power dynamics. The opening of the play introduces an elaborate setting adorned for a celebration, which quickly reveals the impending marriage between Balboa and Pedrarias' daughter, Maria. The dialogue between characters such as Jeronimo and Linares establishes a tension underscored by Pedrarias' enmity towards Balboa. As the narrative unfolds, the audience is made aware of Maria's deep affection for Balboa, her father's bitterness, and the struggles that lie ahead for the couple as political intrigue and personal grievances threaten their union. The sense of foreboding is amplified by the conversation surrounding Pedrarias' true feelings towards Balboa, foreshadowing conflict that will likely escalate as the story progresses.
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