The Golden Pot
and other tales of the uncanny
by E. T. A. Hoffmann
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Pub Date 24 Oct 2023 | Archive Date 13 Aug 2023
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Description
Macabre and fantastical, Hoffmann’s wildly imaginative tales offer an unflinching view of human nature and sing clearer than ever in a masterful new translation
Whether a surrealist exploration of the anxieties surrounding automation, or a mystery concerning a goldsmith, missing jewels, and a spate of murders, each tale in this collection reveals the complexities of human desire and fear.
Hoffman, whose most famous work is “The Nutcracker,” is often compared to Edgar Allan Poe. Hoffman’s massive influence qualifies him as the godfather of the German Romantic Movement which led to the horror genre.
The macabre, fantastical nature of his subject matter inspired a broad swath of culture, with two of the longer stories in this collection “The Sandman” and “The Automaton” influencing Philip K. Dick’s original inspiration for Blade Runner. The murder mystery “Mademoiselle de Scudéry” is perhaps one of the earliest prototypes of the detective genre story.
Music and madness flow through E.T.A. Hoffmann’s phantasmagoric stories. The ringing of crystal bells heralds the arrival of a beguiling snake, and a student’s descent into lunacy; a young man abandons his betrothed for a woman who plays the piano skillfully but seems worryingly wooden; a counselor’s daughter must choose between singing and her life.
Peter Wortsman’s masterful new translation allows Hoffmann’s distinct and influential style to shine, while breathing new life into stories that seem both familiar and uncanny.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781953861702 |
| PRICE | US$24.00 (USD) |
| PAGES | 300 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Jessica B, Reviewer
Firstly thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this book.
The Golden Pot is a translated short story collection from the writer and composer E.T.A Hoffmann. Each story threads together the themes of murder, magic, madness and music. Told through beautiful prose and imagery which gives it an almost fever dream quality.
As with all collections some stories resonate more. His most famous The Golden Pot and The sandman are prime examples of his work and his exploration of madness and magic and how music can play its parts. But my personal favourite was Mademoiselle De Scudery a murder mystery possibly one of the 1st of its kinds. It has jewellery thefts, possible spirits,secrets and royalty.
I would recommend this book to anybody who wants to dip.in to the classics or who love character driven stories.
Lark !, Reviewer
I love this translation so much. I've bought this edition of Hoffman's tales just to have the pleasure of holding it in my hands as I read. That I loved it this much is quite a tribute to Peter Wortsman's meticulous translation, especially because I first fell in love with E.T.A. Hoffmann in my German classes, reading these stories in the original language, and then I fell in love with them again when I read Ritchie Robertson's translations from the early 1990's, the way Robertson nudged or manhandled some of the literal meanings entirely forgiven by me because of the way he made everything rhyme, and dance--and I need to admit that I did miss the way the old woman in Robertson's version shouts after Anselmus, so eerily and so threateningly, INTO GLASS YOU SHALL PASS!!!--even though the German has no such rhyme in it, and even if Wortsman's translation of "Krystal" as 'crystal ball' is much closer to the original meaning than "glass" is...so yes, read this, read it with delight, and give thanks that this new version is here of these amazing vivid stories that still make me laugh, and sometimes shiver.
Janelle W, Reviewer
Atmospheric and dreamy, beautifully translated. I enjoyed reading these imaginative short stories, my favourite is easily ‘The Sandman’.
Luke M, Bookseller
A beautiful collection of short stories, each more inviting than the next. I was pulled into this collection swiftly, devouring it whole in a single evening. A fantastic book and a treasure to own.
Bookseller 206683
"The Golden Pot and Other Tales of the Uncanny" by E. T. A. Hoffmann is a collection of macabre and fantastical tales that offer a glimpse into the complexities of human desire and fear. Hoffmann's stories explore themes such as automation, mystery, and the darker aspects of human nature.
Gustavo A, Reviewer
E. T. A. Hoffmann, in "The Golden Pot and Other Tales of the Uncanny," offers a fascinating collection of stories that delve into the supernatural and the fantastic. With rich and imaginative narrative, Hoffmann explores the boundaries between reality and fantasy, creating tales that are both disturbing and enchanting. The author's skill in combining grotesque elements with poetic beauty makes this work essential reading for lovers of Gothic literature and German Romanticism. The collection captures the essence of the "uncanny" in an unparalleled way, leaving a lasting impression on the reader.
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