Arthur Schnitzler (1862-1931), playwright and author, was trained as a physician and became the editor of the medical journal Internationale klinische Rundschau [International Clinical Review] (1887-94), which published several of his articles on psychotherapy. In 1893, he made his literary debut with a collection of short plays, Anatol, and in 1895 had his breakthrough with the play Liebelei. The play was a resounding success which prompted  Schnitzler to devote his time entirely to writing. In the period before World War I, his plays such as Reigen, Professor Bernhardi and Der Weg ins Freie were among the most frequently performed on the Austrian and German stage.