E.T.A. Hoffmann
Paperback | Pages: 83 pages Rating: 3.71 | 9149 Users | 403 Reviews
Mention Books In Pursuance Of Der Sandmann
| Original Title: | Der Sandmann |
| ISBN: | 3458326340 (ISBN13: 9783458326342) |
| Edition Language: | German |
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I read this rather (no very) creepy tale years ago, and while I truly enjoyed and above all appreciated E. T. A. Hoffmann's Der Sandmann, I also do not much feel like a detailed and intense rereading at this time, as the plot, the thematics actually repeatedly produced some rather vivid and glaring nightmares when I perused it, first for a German Romanticism course in undergrad and then later for my PhD Comprehensive Examinations (I still recall that there were dancing mechnical maniacal dolls, and a sandman who was anything but benevolent and was forever watching me with strange eyes, monitoring me, and during my PhD Comprehensive preparation phase, even nastily admonishing me to read my massive and awe-inspiring reading list always and ever faster and faster, yikes, it still gives me the shivers). A most definitely imaginative and wonderful, but also more than disturbing sojourn into E.T.A. Hoffmann's dark, grasping and uncanny night of the soul (interesting, even fun at times, but Der Sandmann is basically a story that is for all intents and purposes presents a 19th century horror genre experiment), and is thus most definitely a fairy tale (a Kunstmärchen) for adults, and NOT really appropriate for young children. And by the way, the "dancing doll" episode in Jacques Offenbach's famous opera, The Tales of Hoffmann, while brilliant and evocative in and of itself, is also (at least from a creepiness and uncanniness point of view) but a pale and tame reflection of Der Sandmann (on which the episode is distinctly but still rather loosely based).Declare Out Of Books Der Sandmann
| Title | : | Der Sandmann |
| Author | : | E.T.A. Hoffmann |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | Special Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 83 pages |
| Published | : | 1986 by Insel Verlag (first published January 19th 1816) |
| Categories | : | Classics. Horror. European Literature. German Literature. Short Stories. Academic. School |
Rating Out Of Books Der Sandmann
Ratings: 3.71 From 9149 Users | 403 ReviewsDiscuss Out Of Books Der Sandmann
Great fantastic story-telling by a troubled man. Science and technology versus magic, madness, life and death -- key themes from this Romantic period German author. Who is really sane? And whom can you trust? Eyeglasses, telescopes, mirrors, and other optically refractive devices abound as symbols of the inescapbability of perspective in observation (nothing can be viewed directly or understood objectively and without bias). And automatons (another key period device) are present as technologyOriginal review posted hereThere is absolutely no reason for people to avoid reading this story. First of all, its short about 30 pages (and the ones I read were TINY pages). Secondly, its so. freaking. amazing. Seriously! Read it! Now Ill tell you why.For my Seminar in European Literature this semester we are studying the uncanny what the word means, how to define it ourselves, how its defined in stories, and were reading all sorts of fantastic things like Grimms Fairy Tales, Freuds essays,
The work of a genius! Very creepy and enjoyable to read, but at the same time extremely intelligent and multilayered.
The Sandman has a bit for everyone, although its the dark chocolate pack, not your average Easter basket.One side of it is that Hoffmann writes tales for adults. Many of us learn to let go of the monsters that would surely come to punish us should we be naughty. Nowhere is the transition as clear as it is here, as Hoffmann builds upon the granny scaring young Nathanael with the story of the Sandman and builds him into a monster that feeds on narcissism, obsession and vanity, when Nathanael
I am a German native and used to the style this book was written. However, I did read it in English and have to say this was an excellent translation.The story itself suited my taste in "creepy" books. It started with the letters written to Nathaniel's friend Lothar. It made me curious how Hoffmann will unravel the story and if he chose to have a happy ending. At times I felt Stephen King might have borrowed from him, since it reminded me a bit of his stories.An entertaining short story with a
Such a short but brilliant book. I remember hating it when I was forced to read it back in school but somehow ended up loving it even back then- I choose to write my final examination about its characters. Rereading it, I'm still amazed by Nathanael's story. Although the book is rather short, it offers a lot. Beginning with the retelling of a horrible incident in his childhood, it proceeds to show how this early incident shapes his years as a student. Nathanael is the prime example of a youth in
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