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'E.T.A Hoffman belongs to that eternal guild of poets and visionaries who take revenge on the life that is tormenting them by showing it examples of forms more colourful and diverse than reality can manage to convey.' --Stefan Zweig
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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 in 1815, "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.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book has been a favourite of mine for a long time, and it's great to see it presented in such a fine-looking new edition.
The story is full of fantastic and bizarre characters and the plot twists and turns mercilessly. This wonderful translation does full justice to the colourful, macabre style of the original. A highly influential classic of German literature that certainly deserves greater appreciation in the English-speaking world.
The story is full of fantastic and bizarre characters and the plot twists and turns mercilessly. This wonderful translation does full justice to the colourful, macabre style of the original. A highly influential classic of German literature that certainly deserves greater appreciation in the English-speaking world.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I love all of Hoffmann's works and was delighted to see that there have been a couple of translations of this work appear in the last two years.
The story is a wonderful gothic mystery told with a fair amount of humour, full of all the themes of the romantic / gothic period.
As the two translations go, this book is a reprint of a translation last published in the 1960s. As such it does have a kind of out of date feel to it when compared to the Grosvenor House translation which has a much more modern feel to it which was only done last year.
The story is a wonderful gothic mystery told with a fair amount of humour, full of all the themes of the romantic / gothic period.
As the two translations go, this book is a reprint of a translation last published in the 1960s. As such it does have a kind of out of date feel to it when compared to the Grosvenor House translation which has a much more modern feel to it which was only done last year.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
6 reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Great story, so-so translation
30 Dec 2007
Format:Paperback
It's great that this novel (only one of two by Hoffmann) is again available to readers of English. The story -- the adventures of an utterly bonkers, casually homicidal monk with a mysterious and somewhat sinister pedigree -- itself is great macabre fun with a hint of satire.
Unfortunately, the translation is not particularly good. At times the prose comes across as clunky and ill-thought-out. In fact, it often reads as if the translator simply typed each sentence into a translation program, e.g. "Karl der Grosse" is translated at one point as "Karl of Grossen" rather than the more accurate name of "Charlemagne."
Unfortunately, the translation is not particularly good. At times the prose comes across as clunky and ill-thought-out. In fact, it often reads as if the translator simply typed each sentence into a translation program, e.g. "Karl der Grosse" is translated at one point as "Karl of Grossen" rather than the more accurate name of "Charlemagne."
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful
The Best Translation of Hoffmann in English
16 Sep 2007
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
It's a shame that only a handful of Hoffmann's work is available in English, and much of what we do have consists of 19th century renderings mired in the mannered, stilted phrasings and irritatingly turgid sentence structure which, in Victorian times proved that an author was "good." Ian Sumter has produced the best book-length edition of Hoffmann in English. His prose is clear, concise, and never muddled, so that the author's oftentimes ambiguous and deceptive scenarios are not confusing, as other translators have made them.
The Devil's Elixirs is some of Hoffmann's best writing. It is a swift-moving , engaging story that boasts many complex psychological themes, and, of course, countless overlapping motifs, double identities, and confusions between reality and the interpretation of reality. It is at once witty and nightmarishly frightening, and easily overshadows the tame and shapeless Tomcat Muir in both style and substance.
A great novel that has been out of print in English for nearly a century. Grab it while it's available.
The Devil's Elixirs is some of Hoffmann's best writing. It is a swift-moving , engaging story that boasts many complex psychological themes, and, of course, countless overlapping motifs, double identities, and confusions between reality and the interpretation of reality. It is at once witty and nightmarishly frightening, and easily overshadows the tame and shapeless Tomcat Muir in both style and substance.
A great novel that has been out of print in English for nearly a century. Grab it while it's available.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
The Monk with a happier ending
16 Sep 2007
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I give this only three stars because as far as Hoffmann goes The Golden Pot and Master Flea were better and tighter novels, in my opinion. However, The Devil's Elixirs makes for a fascinating read.
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