About this title: Ranging from macabre fantasies to fairy tales and tales of crime, these stories from the author of The Nutcracker create a rich fictional world. Hoffman paints a complex vision of humanity, where people struggle to establish identities in a hostile, absurd world.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Description: Acceptable. Shows definite wear, and perhaps considerable marking on inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Edition: Edition Unstated
Binding: Trade Paperback
Publisher: University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.
Date Published: 1972
ISBN-13:9780226347899ISBN:0226347893
Description: Good. As issued No Jacket. Spine lean, corner bumps, large used bookstore sticker on rear cover, rear cover delaminating along the left edge the front along the right, front cover curls up, and other light to moderate shopwear. read more
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Date Published: 1972
ISBN-13:9780226347899ISBN:0226347893
Description: Good. No dust jacket as issued. Has a light crease at the spine. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 320 p. Contains: Illustrations. Audience: General/trade. read more
Edition: Abridged Edition
Binding: Softcover; 4th Printing
Publisher: the University of Chicago Press, Chicago
Date Published: 1972
ISBN-13:9780226347899ISBN:0226347893
Description: Illustrated by Jacob Landau. VG/NONE. 13. 0226347893. Large softcover book, clean with tight text block. There is light rubbing of the edges and corners, no spine crease. There is underlining throughout the book that does not seem to interfere with the text. Includes an introduction, Ritter Gluck, The Golden Pot, The Sandman, Councillor Krespel, the Mines of Falun, Mademoiselle de Scuderi and The Doubles.; B&W Illustrations; 9" x 6"; 279 pages. read more
Edition: Trade Paperback Edition
Binding: Wraps
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press, Chicago and London
Date Published: 1972
ISBN-13:9780226347899ISBN:0226347893
Description: Illustrated By Jacob Landau. Very Good+ No Jacket. Edited and translated by Leonard J. Kent and Elizabeth C. Knight. 279 pages. read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: University of Chicago Press (Chicago & London), 1972 (c. 1969).
Description: Later printing. Illustrated by Jacob Landau. xxxix + 279 pp. Introduction with footnotes. "The translators have proved fully equal to all the challenges of Hoffmann's romantic irony and his richly allusive prose. " Softcover (6" x 9" format). The word "Booksale" is stamped in red on the half-title page; otherwise, this is a clean unworn copy. VG. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: University Of Chicago Press
Date Published: 1972-05-15
ISBN-13:9780226347899ISBN:0226347893
Description: Good. Unmarkedtext. Some writing on the back cover. No spine crease. Some cover edge wear. Reading copy. We normally ship every business day. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: University Of Chicago Press
Date Published: 1972-05-15
ISBN-13:9780226347899ISBN:0226347893
Description: Good. Something sticky on the spine but spine hasn't been cracked, this book is like new clean interior pages. FAST SHIPPING W/USPS TRACKING! ! ! read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Date Published: 1972
ISBN-13:9780226347899ISBN:0226347893
Description: Very Good; Shiny covers, top corner creased. 0226347893. Phoenix Books; 0.6 x 8.9 x 5.8 Inches; 320 pages; Ranging from macabre fantasies to fairy tales and tales of crime, these stories from the author of The Nutcracker create a rich fictional world. Hoffman paints a complex vision of humanity, where people struggle to establish identities in a hostile, absurd world. "The editors have made an excellent selection, and the result is a book of great distinction. "— Denis Donoghue, New York ... read more
Description: Very Good. Previously read with moderate shelf wear. No underlining or margin notes present. We are the Twin Cities' largest independent book store. read more
Edition: Reprint
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Univ of Chicago Pr, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.
Date Published: 1972
ISBN-13:9780226347899ISBN:0226347893
Description: Good. No Jacket. 8vo-over 7¾"-9¾" tall. Rubbing and soiling on wrapper and edges. PO gift inscription on ffep. Text is clean and tight. read more
Edition: Later Printing
Binding: Trade Paperback
Publisher: Univ of Chicago Pr, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.
Date Published: 1972
ISBN-13:9780226347899ISBN:0226347893
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: University of Chicago Press, Chicago
Date Published: 1972
ISBN-13:9780226347899ISBN:0226347893
Description: Jacob Landau. Very Good. 8vo-over 7¾"-9¾" tall. 279 pp. , 9 illustrations, owner's name inside front cover, no other marks, spine discolored, no tears or chips. read more
"The rather long introduction to this book provides useful biographical information (Hoffman was a German Romantic, having lived from 1776-1822), insights into Hoffman's psychology, and specific comments about the tales contained in this volume. There are seven of Hoffman's stories contained herein.
"Ritter Gluck" has a flavor of magical realism; it is certainly a fantasy with a febrile quality.
"The Golden Pot" is dreamlike and phantasmagoric; the distinctions between reality and fantasy are blurred, leading the reader through labyrinthine images that shift and slide, inviting multiple interpretations. People and objects metamorphose, changing continually as in dreams, creating a kaleidoscopic mood and atmosphere, reminiscent of the writings of Kafka. There are also elements of fable contained here; typical challenges and dilemmas are set up, the reader knowing that the hero will fall into traps from which he must be extricated. The margin between everyday life and dream world becomes increasingly blurred, and the reader sometimes has difficulty distinguishing one from another. The tale culminates with a vision of Atlantis, an Edenic setting wherein nature is equated with poetry. Marvelous!
"The Sandman" is a story in which the sudden shift in perspective from the writer of the opening letters to that of a different narrator is disconcerting. Nathanael is besotted with the automaton Olympia, who is obviously not human at all, someone who is merely a mirror for whatever Nathanael chooses to project on her; he seems unable to understand or accept Klara, who is fully aware, loving, and skeptical. Eventually, haunted and pursued by the murderer of his father, Nathanael descends into madness and suicide. It is an odd and griping story.
"Councillor Krespel" is less of a fantasy than a fairytale-like story of fatal emotions, of the consequences of excessive desires and selfishness.
"The Mines of Falun" is a tale of bewitchment and tragedy, of insatiable longing and inevitable doom.
"Mademoiselle de Scuderi" is an enigma. Is this a very early detective story? If so, it certainly has an unusual number of sequential subplots. But who exactly is the detective? Desgrais? Mademoisel le de Scuderi? What a convoluted plot! Halfway through the tale, I could not even recall some of the early subplots, many of which seemed unrelated to the events now being related; but in the end, all was convincing resolved, the story reminding me of those by Edgar Allan Poe and Arthur Conan Doyle. Very nice, indeed.
"The Doubles" is a clever extended variation on the perennially fascinating doppelgänger theme.
The Tales are unique and delightful, imaginative and well written, a notable addition to the genre of fantasy literature."
"This guy was great! What an imagination...I'm thinking one of my favorite writers, the criminally-unknown/underrated Gerald Kersh, was a Hoffmann fan because I see a lot of similarities. Really amazing stuff."
We guarantee every item's condition, as described on Alibris. If you are not satisfied that an item is as described, return your purchase for a refund.
rating
