20th Century Dream Story

by Arthur Schnitzler and Arthur Schnitzler; Otto P. Schinnerer [trans.]

Book Overview

A married couple, Fridolin and Albertine, are troubled by events and jealous of each other's attentions the night before at a masquerade ball. Suddenly, Fridolin, a doctor, is summoned to the bedside... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0141182245
• Release Date: September 1999
• Publisher: Penguin Classic
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.4" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Elegantly strange and tinged with regret

Rhapsody is a quick read and one that creates an aura of delightful anticipation at a rapidly accelerating rate. I found a copy at a local University library-a tiny volume printed in 1927 by Alfred Knopf. I am a diehard Kubrick fan and was thrilled as I turned each page and recognized many scenes seen in the Eyes Wide Shut promo. Leelee Sobrieski's film character in the carnival shop must be the somewhat deranged adolescent kept by the sinister costumer. (This character is never thoroughly explained- indeed this level of teasing ambiguity is what makes Schnitzler's narrative so compelling.) After all the hullabaloo concerning the "supposed" cross-dressing and drug-use in the film, I was pleased to find that Rhapsody is all dark undercurrent and dancing shadows. There are real moments of danger and sexual angst to be sure, but it's so subtle it hurts. The original title Dream Novel is apt- the protagonist's adventures happen within the space of night and the following day. As he journeys through the town in the afternoon glare he begins to doubt that any of the peculiar and frightening things he's been a part of could actually have happened. He strives to understand his relationship to these experiences in a rational way- to no avail. Get the book! It's scintillating and sharp leaving lots to the imagination and plenty of leeway to interpret the characters motives.I know that Kubrick (who talked about creating a Schnitzler-based film as long ago as the 1960's) has done the story justice. I can hardly wait for July 16th!

A European Story

This novella has a beatiful "light at the end of the tunnel" story to it. With beautiful surreal setting that make a story wonderful, and provides the perfect imagery from Europe during the day. Kubrick picked a great book to paint a picture for. Cruise and Kidman better not screw it up.

Most Interesting and Brilliant Short fiction story

This is perfect Kubrick film making material. Stanley Kubrick's new movie "Eyes Wide Shut" is based on this story wich is the type of material Kubrick makes into a success. This book is very interesting and the main character developement is just perfect. Dream Story is one of the best written work of an author ive seen. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking forward to Kubrick's "Eyes Wide Shut" next year(99). The movie will probably be more modernized, but if you know Kubrick, you'll know that this story will be another one of Kubrick's masterpeice. The story shows how a couple show their love towards each other and how they are willing to talk about their past and possibly future relations with other people. "No dream is entirely a dream"

Dream Story: A study in the relation of dreams to reality

Arthur Schnitzler's "Dream Story", is a psychological novel which explores the relation of dreams and fantasies to reality. The principle characters, Fridolin and Albertina, are a happily married couple who confess their sexual might-have -beens to one another. However, whether or not the events are reality or merely dreams is not known. The book puts it this way, "no dream is entirely a dream." This book was optioned by film director Stanley Kubrick, director of "2001: A Space Odyssey" and "A Clockwork Orange", and is being filmed under the title, "Eyes Wide Shut". Kubrick described the book this way, "It explores the sexual ambivalence of a happy marriage and tries to equate the inportance of sexual dreams and might-have-beens with reality."