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5.0étoiles sur 5
19th Century German Horror And Fantasy, Mai 5 2004
Although the previous review was negative calling this collection of E.T.A. Hoffman's stories uninspiring and meaningless, it's worth taking a better look. E.T.A. Hoffman's genius and the Germany he was familiar with. In the mid 19th century, Germany, not yet the German Empire, was a vast and varied society. Intellectuals were educated in the brand name universities (such as Heidelberg) and new waves of thought and politics were emerging such as Karl Marx's Communism. Germany had been the home of great existential philosophers such as Immanuel Kant, the freedom-loving Friderich Von Schiller and later the atheist Friedrich Nietzche. It was the home of many Romantic Era composers and writers - Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, Richard Wagner, Gustav Mahler, writer Henrich Heine and our own E.T.A. Hoffman. He represented, like many other fiction writers his age, the Romanticism of the 19th century that flowered all over Europe. Germany was mostly famous for its symbolic fantasy and fairy-tales, after all this was also the home of the Grimm Brothers.Hoffman's short stories were the German equivalent for Gothic fantasy and horror, in a slightly similar style that Edgar Allan Poe wrote in America. There is even a resemblance to early science fiction novellas, though nothing like Jules Verne or H.G. Wells. "The Sandman" and "Councillor Crespel" were feautured and altered in the Jacques Offenbach French opera "Les Contes D'Hoffman" of The Tales Of Hoffman. These supernatural tales dealt with death and romantic despair. In one story, a soprano suffering of consumption is forced to sing to her death by a villainous doctor. Although the stories appear to be strange and foreign to us, it was highly regarded as great literature of science fiction or horror. For its historic value
and for any interested fans of Romantic Era obscure novelists, this is perfect to read. Also, if you want to read the source of inspiration for Offenbach's opera The Tales Of Hoffman.
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2.0étoiles sur 5
Uninspiring, Aoû 13 2003
I fear that I will be vilified for not recommending this book, but honesty requires that I say I found it remarkably unenjoyable. I was given the book as a gift, and was not previously familiar with Hoffmann. Let me say also, that I am not a complete Philistine, and I thought that if this indeed considered a "classic" then there was no reason I shouldn't like it. But the first story, "Mademoiselle de Scudery", described by the translator as Hoffmann's masterpiece, is a total train wreck. The characters are ridiculously artificial and overwrought, though this is I suppose expected in this genre of literature. But worst of all, the story is completely unable to generate any kind of tension. It was infuriating to read a banal account of these events which obviously could have been suspensful. Some of the other stories are better: I enjoyed "The Sandman" and "The Mines at Falun", but often the other stories are filled with mystical symbols and bizarre events that appear to bear no relationship between with the rest of the story. I'm all for unusual ideas and out of the ordinary happenings, but there is a penchant in these stories for meaninglessness and triviality. Maybe I'm not seeing the 900 pound gorilla in the room, I don't know. But as it stands now, I would not want to pass the gift of these stories on to anyone.
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5.0étoiles sur 5
A Treasury of Wonderful Stories..., Fév 11 2001
E. T. A. Hoffmann is perhaps best known to American audiences as the creator of "The Nutcracker"; a story most are familar with due to the numerous stage productions each Christmas season. Hoffmann's contribution to fantasy and literature extends far beyond the Nutcracker though. He posessed an amazing imagination and true talent for spinning a story, exciting a sense of wonder and creating eccentric, memorable characters. This book, "The Tales of Hoffman", offers the reader some of Hoffmann's best, and at the same time, lesser known works. The stories included are:"Mademoiselle de Scudery", "The Sandman", "The Artushof", "Councillor Krespel", "The Entail", "Doge and Dogaressa" "The Mines at Falun", "The Choosing of the Bride" I wish I was a Hoffmann scholar, so that I could do justice in this review to these great tales. Suffice it to say, that anyone interested in superbly crafted fantasy, the supernatural interwoven with the romantic, and wonderfully crafted characters - anyone who reads and admires to the works of Edgar Allan Poe, Charles Dickens, and Bram Stoker to name just a few, should read the works of Herr Hoffmann. He is truly one of the finest, and under appreciated, authors of the fantastic.
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