Arthur Schnitzler Hands Around: A Roundelay in Ten Dialogues

"Hands Around" is a provocative and structurally innovative play by the renowned Austrian dramatist Arthur Schnitzler. Set in fin-de-siècle Vienna, the work consists of ten interlocking dialogues that explore the complexities of human desire, social hierarchy, and the fragile nature of intimacy. The narrative follows a unique "roundelay" structure: character A meets character B, character B then meets character C, and the chain continues until the final scene brings the cycle back to the beginning.

Through this sequence of encounters-ranging from soldiers and parlor maids to poets and aristocrats-Schnitzler masterfully peels back the layers of Viennese society. The play serves as a biting satire on the sexual mores and class distinctions of its time, highlighting the universal yet isolating nature of physical connection. Celebrated for its psychological depth and modern sensibility, "Hands Around" remains a landmark of 20th-century European literature. This edition captures the rhythmic wit and cynical charm of the original work, offering readers a window into the decadent and often hypocritical world of early modern society.

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