Author and playwright. Born to Luise Markbreiter and Hungarian physician, Johann Schnitzler, he attended the University of Vienna where he studied medicine. Upon his graduation in 1885, he obtained a position at a hospital in Vienna before he abandoned medicine in favor of a writing career. His first published work was "Anatol" in 1893, a series of seven one-act plays. It was followed by "Reigen" or "Merry-Go-Round" in 1897, a cycle of 10 dramatic dialogues, which have since been adapted to both stage and screen. His work became known for his forays into human psychology and included "Liebelei" or "Playing with Love" in 1896; "Freiwild" or "Free Game" in 1896; his most successful novel, "Leutnant Gustl" in 1901, was the first written as a stream-of-consciousness monologue; "Flucht in die Finsternis" or "Flight into Darkness" in 1931; "Professor Bernhardi" in 1912, a play about institutionalized anti-Semitism, which was ultimately banned; and the novel, "Der Weg ins Freie" or "The Road Into the Open" in 1908, which examined anti-Semitism and its effect on the young people of Vienna. As part of the Avant-garde movement and as much of his work carried a sexual theme, he was labeled a pornographer by the anti-Semitic establishment. He reached the height of his fame in 1914, when rampant nationalism during World War I reduced him writing unpopular pacifist epigrams. His last notable work was "Traumnovelle" or "Dream Story" aka "Rhapsody: A Dream Novel" in 1926, which was later loosely adapted for the feature film "Eyes Wide Shut." He first married Olga Gussamn, a singer, and had two children. The unexplained suicide of his 18-year-old daughter in 1926 broke him, and he told his friends that his life "was at an end." Upon his death, he ordered that he should be given a pauper's funeral so the funds that would otherwise have been spent could be distributed to the hospitals of Vienna. During World War II, Schnitzler's works were called "Jewish filth" by Adolf Hitler and were banned by the Nazis. An English friend of the family rescued 40,000 pages of professional documents and eventually achieved them at Cambridge University Library. His grandson, Michael Schnitzler, became a singer of popular music, who was awarded the Grand Decoration of Honor for Services to the Republic of Austria.
Author and playwright. Born to Luise Markbreiter and Hungarian physician, Johann Schnitzler, he attended the University of Vienna where he studied medicine. Upon his graduation in 1885, he obtained a position at a hospital in Vienna before he abandoned medicine in favor of a writing career. His first published work was "Anatol" in 1893, a series of seven one-act plays. It was followed by "Reigen" or "Merry-Go-Round" in 1897, a cycle of 10 dramatic dialogues, which have since been adapted to both stage and screen. His work became known for his forays into human psychology and included "Liebelei" or "Playing with Love" in 1896; "Freiwild" or "Free Game" in 1896; his most successful novel, "Leutnant Gustl" in 1901, was the first written as a stream-of-consciousness monologue; "Flucht in die Finsternis" or "Flight into Darkness" in 1931; "Professor Bernhardi" in 1912, a play about institutionalized anti-Semitism, which was ultimately banned; and the novel, "Der Weg ins Freie" or "The Road Into the Open" in 1908, which examined anti-Semitism and its effect on the young people of Vienna. As part of the Avant-garde movement and as much of his work carried a sexual theme, he was labeled a pornographer by the anti-Semitic establishment. He reached the height of his fame in 1914, when rampant nationalism during World War I reduced him writing unpopular pacifist epigrams. His last notable work was "Traumnovelle" or "Dream Story" aka "Rhapsody: A Dream Novel" in 1926, which was later loosely adapted for the feature film "Eyes Wide Shut." He first married Olga Gussamn, a singer, and had two children. The unexplained suicide of his 18-year-old daughter in 1926 broke him, and he told his friends that his life "was at an end." Upon his death, he ordered that he should be given a pauper's funeral so the funds that would otherwise have been spent could be distributed to the hospitals of Vienna. During World War II, Schnitzler's works were called "Jewish filth" by Adolf Hitler and were banned by the Nazis. An English friend of the family rescued 40,000 pages of professional documents and eventually achieved them at Cambridge University Library. His grandson, Michael Schnitzler, became a singer of popular music, who was awarded the Grand Decoration of Honor for Services to the Republic of Austria.
Bio by: Iola
Gravesite Details
He shares his grave marker with his son, Henrich, and brother, Dr. Julius Schnitzler.
Family Members
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