E.T.A. Hoffmann – författare

Nathanael remains haunted by his childhood fear that the lawyer Coppelius, a strange night-time visitor who used to come to his house to conduct alchemical experiments with his father – the latter dying as a consequence of one of these sessions – was none other than the Sandman, a mythical figure who was said to steal the eyes of children who refused to go to sleep. When a mysterious Italian salesman comes to town, Nathanael’s suspicions are reawakened, pushing him to the brink of madness as extraordinary events unfold.First published in 1816, this classic of German Gothic fiction has enthralled generations ever since, and has spawned countless interpretations by critics intrigued by its powerful symbolism. Sigmund Freud famously examined the novella in relation to his concept of the “Uncanny”, and an extract from this analysis is included in this volume.

Tomcat Murr is a loveable, self-taught animal who has written his own autobiography. But a printer's error causes his story to be accidentally mixed and spliced with a book about the composer Johannes Kreisler. As the two versions break off and alternate at dramatic moments, two wildly different characters emerge from the confusion - Murr, the confident scholar, lover, carouser and brawler, and the moody, hypochondriac genius Kreisler. In his exuberant and bizarre novel, Hoffmann brilliantly evokes the fantastic, the ridiculous and the sublime within the humdrum bustle of daily life, making The Life and Opinions of the Tomcat Murr (1820-22) one of the funniest and strangest novels of the nineteenth century.

E.T.A. Hoffman's wildly original fictions are some of the most unusual examples of German Romanticism's dark passions, and the stories in Tales of Hoffman are selected and translated from the German with an introduction by R.J. Hollingdale in Penguin Classics.This selection of Hoffmann's finest short stories vividly demonstrates his intense imagination and preoccupation with the supernatural, placing him at the forefront of both surrealism and the modern horror genre. Suspense dominates tales such as Mademoiselle de Scudery, in which an apprentice goldsmith and a female novelist find themselves caught up in a series of jewel thefts and murders. In the sinister The Sandman, famously used by Sigmund Freud to illustrate both his concept of the unheimlich, or 'uncanny', and of Oedipal guilt, a young man's sanity is tormented by fears about a mysterious chemist; while in The Choosing of a Bride a greedy father preys on the weaknesses of his daughter's suitors. Master of the bizarre, Hoffman creates a sinister and unsettling world combining love and madness, black humour and bewildering illusion.This edition contains authoritative translations of Hoffman's best stories. In his introduction, R.J. Hollingdale explores the background of these works and examines the duality of Hoffman's life - a lawyer by day and creator of a world of fantasy by night.E.T.A Hoffmann (1776-1822) studied law and entered the Prussian civil service, but his over-riding ambition was to become a graphic artist and painter. He turned to fiction only in his thirties, living a Jekyll-and-Hyde existence as lawyer by day, author by night - and became one of the most influential authors of his time.If you enjoyed Tales of Hoffman, you might also like Jorge Luis Borges's Fictions, available in Penguin Modern Classics.

The story that inspired the legendary ballet, presented in a beautiful hardcover edition perfect for giving as a gift.Written in 1816 by the German Romantic E. T. A. Hoffmann for his children, nephews and nieces, The Nutcracker captures better than any other story a child's wonder at Christmas. Since its publication, it has inspired hundreds of artists and adaptations, most notably the legendary ballet, scored by Russian composer Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Today, the story - and its enchanting images of sugar plums and nutcrackers, mistletoe and the Kingdom of the Dolls - continues to cast its fantastical spell on readers of all ages.E. T. A. Hoffmann (1776-1822) was one of the major figures of European Romanticism, specializing in tales of the fantastical and uncanny. He was also a music critic, jurist, composer and caricaturist. His Tales of Hoffmann, available in Penguin Classics, includes such masterpieces as 'Mademoiselle de Scudery', one of the earliest example of crime fiction, and Hoffmann's terrifying version of 'The Sandman'. Joachim Neugroschel won three PEN translation awards and the French-American Foundation Translation Prize. He translated Thomas Mann's Death in Venice and Sacher-Masoch's Venus in Furs, among other works, for Penguin Classics.

Little Clothbound Classics: irresistible, mini editions of short stories, novellas and essays from the world's greatest writers, designed by the award-winning Coralie Bickford-Smith.The gift of a handsomely decorated, enigmatic nutcracker sets the stage for a Christmas like no other: there will be legends of ancient curses, battles with the dreaded Mouse King, and a visit to the wonderful Kingdom of Dolls. The inspiration for the classic ballet, E. T. A. Hoffmann's irresistible tale of magic and mystery continues to be the perfect encapsulation of a child's wonder at Christmas.

E.T.A. Hoffman can be considered one of the fathers of German Gothic Horror. He wrote one of the first German horror novels, Die Elixiere des Teufels (The Devil’s Elixirs), and he also wrote the story to which Tchaikovsky composed the Nutcracker Suite. The Sandman is a story that is unique in its perspective, which depends on which of the main characters’ viewpoints one believes. If one follows the interpretation of the romantic, Nathanael, then there is a mad man after him (from a childhood trauma related to the Sandman). If one believes the viewpoint of Clara, the rational one, it is all in his mind and pure fantasy. Written in 1816/17, the topic of the automaton is also a question of what is real and what is merely perceived to be real, which is at the root of the uncanny, as described by Freud, among others. Blurring the lines between mechanical and human is a very contemporary issue with virtual assistants and AI’s whose voices are indistinguishable from humans. This narrative is over 200 years old still and has many interesting and prescient questions at its core that modern audiences will find interesting and engaging.

A mini deluxe box set that brings back 3 of our classic Christmas mini books that have been out of print with new handsome POB covers for this special slipcase edition:The Night Before Christmas, by Clement C. Moore, illustrated by Christian BirminghamThe Nutcracker, from the story by E.T.A. Hoffmann, illustrated by Don DailyA Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Christian Birmingham

Snowflakes aren't the only things that dance at Christmastime. So do nutcrackers, little girls, mouse-kings, and toys! Now available in board book format, this beautiful adaptation of the classic story we love so much will reach a new generation of readers.

Of all the gifts under the tree on Christmas Eve, only one captures Marie Stahlbaum’s heart: a humble nutcracker.He’s a curious little man with kind eyes, sweet red cheeks, and a friendly appearance.And as midnight nears, he comes to life, revealing a fairy-tale world of magic and wonder, wicked princesses and fierce battles . . . and an ancient curse that can only be broken with the help of a true friend.With the evil Mouse King looming and her dream world threatened, Marie will have to find the strength to stand up for her nutcracker - no matter what it takes.

Hoffmann's classic Christmas fairy tale, immortalised by Tchaikovsky's ballet, is brought to life by the gorgeous contemporary artwork of Finnish illustrator, Sanna Annuka. On Christmas Eve, Fritz and Marie excitedly await the arrival of Godfather Drosselmeier and the marvellous gifts he brings for them every year. When Marie discovers a curious nutcracker doll among the presents, she suddenly finds herself caught up in an age-old battle before being transported to a magical world of sugar-frosted castles, chocolate kings, and true love. Sanna Annukka is familiar to many from her collaborations with Marimekko and her artwork for Keane's album, Under the Iron Sea. The Nutcracker is her third book project. This cloth-bound edition combines the charm of Hoffmann's original nineteenth-century tale with the freshness of Sanna Annuka's gorgeous illustrations. A beautiful gift to give and receive.

The son of a heinous sinner, Medardus is brought up in a monastery to atone for his father’s wicked ways. However, after succumbing to temptation, Medardus himself is lured into a life of sin. A labyrinthine plot sees him embarking on a fantastical journey into the world, meeting his doppelganger, involving himself in a game of double impersonation and becoming embroiled in murderous intrigues at the Vatican, before the mysterious curse hanging over him and his family is finally explained.First published between 1815 and 1816, The Devil’s Elixirs is a macabre masterpiece of German literature, and is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the Romantic movement, or the genres of fantasy and horror which it spawned.ABOUT ALMA CLASSICS: Alma Classics is committed to making available a wide range of literature from around the globe. Most of the titles are enriched by an extensive critical apparatus, notes and extra reading material, as well as a selection of photographs. The texts are based on the most authoritative edition and edited using a fresh, accessible editorial approach. With an emphasis on production, editorial and typographical values, Alma Classics aspires to revitalize the whole experience of reading classics.

Happily engaged to the poet Amandus, Fräulein Anna is horrified to discover that a beautiful ring, mysteriously deposited upon her finger whilst tending her kitchen garden, forces her into marriage with the gnome Corduanspitz. Can Anna find any way of removing the ring? Will her poet lover shake off his passive demeanour and come to her aid? And has Corduanspitz truly relinquished all ties to his gnome heritage?Around a love story very much of its time, Hoffman arranges a narrative that brings to mind the most successful elements of contemporary magical realism and surreal comedy. Always entertaining, yet capable of a focused though subtle morality, The King’s Bride brings disparate elements into a masterful harmony.

"Meister Floh" ist das letzte Werk des Schriftstellers, Komponisten und Kammergerichtsrates Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann. Fast ein Jahrhundert lang war es nur in unvollständiger Gestalt erhältlich. Erst 1906 wurden die fehlenden Teile veröffentlicht. Und gerade sie sind es, die für den Juristen und Rechtshistoriker von besonderem Interesse sind – nicht nur, weil sie ein beredter Reflex der zeitgenössischen Demagogenverfolgungen sind, sondern auch, weil sie zeigen, wie problematische Seiten des Strafverfahrens, wenn sie schon nicht "zeitlos" sind, sich doch bis heute "forterben". In der Frage, ob die damals unterdrückten Passagen des Werkes – die sog. "Knarrpanti-Episode" – organische Bestandteile des Ganzen oder entbehrliche Versatzstücke sind, treffen sich die Interessen der juristischen Zeitgeschichte und der Literaturwissenschaft. Beide Disziplinen stellen jedoch auch eigenständige Fragen, wie die beiden hier versammeltenKommentare deutlich machen.