The inspiration behind \'Eyes Wide Shut,\' starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, \'The Dead are Silent\' is a tense psychological novella. Exploring the social parameters of 19th century Vienna, Schnitzler introduces us to Franz and Emma who are having an illicit affair. One evening, they hire a carriage with tragic consequences. \'The Dead are Silent\' is an evocative exploration of the hypocrisy of middle-class Viennese society and an unflinching dissection of the nature of grief. This novella is ideal for those new to Schnitzler\'s body of work.