E.T.A. Hoffmann
E.T.A. Hoffmann
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann, commonly referred to as E.T.A. Hoffmann, was a German Romantic author of fantasy and horror fiction.
Birth and Death Dates
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Hoffmann was born on January 17, 1776, in Königsberg, East Prussia (now Kaliningrad, Russia) and died on June 25, 1822, in Berlin, Germany.
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Hoffmann was a German writer, composer, artist, and jurist. He is best known for his contributions to the field of literature, particularly in the genres of fantasy and horror.
Early Life and Background
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Growing up in Königsberg, Hoffmann was an exceptional child with a talent for music and art. His father, Christian Ludwig Hoffmann, was a royal administrator, and his mother, Franziska Stamme, came from a family of modest means. After his mother's death in 1786, Hoffmann's family moved to Frankfurt, where he continued his education.
Major Accomplishments
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Hoffmann's writing career spanned over two decades, during which he produced numerous short stories, novellas, and plays. Some of his most notable works include:
The Golden Pot (1814) - a fantastical tale about a young man who falls in love with a mysterious woman.
Kreisleriana (1821) - a collection of piano pieces that showcase Hoffmann's musical talent.
* The Sand-Man (1816) - a haunting short story about a child who is haunted by the figure of the Sand-Man.
Notable Works or Actions
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In addition to his literary works, Hoffmann was also known for his contributions to music and art. He was a talented pianist and composer, and his musical pieces were often performed at social gatherings. His artwork, which included drawings and watercolors, showcased his creative talent.
Impact and Legacy
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Hoffmann's writing had a significant impact on the development of German Romantic literature. His use of fantastical and supernatural elements influenced later authors, such as Edgar Allan Poe and H.P. Lovecraft. Today, Hoffmann is remembered as one of the greatest writers of the German Romantic movement.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Hoffmann's writing continues to captivate readers with its imaginative storytelling, vivid characters, and haunting themes. His ability to blend fantasy and reality has made him a beloved figure in literature, and his works remain widely read and studied today. As a testament to his enduring legacy, Hoffmann's quotes and sayings continue to inspire and intrigue readers around the world.
E.T.A. Hoffmann's life was marked by creativity, talent, and tragedy. His contributions to literature, music, and art have left an indelible mark on the world of art and culture. As a testament to his enduring legacy, his quotes and sayings continue to inspire and intrigue readers around the world.
Quotes by E.T.A. Hoffmann
E.T.A. Hoffmann's insights on:
Leuwenhoek received Peregrinus with a repulsively unctuous display of friendship and with the servile compliments which convey an enforced and reluctant acknowledgement of superiority.
If you wonder at something because it has not yet happened to you, or because you think you cannot perceive the connection of cause and effect, that simply shows that your powers of perception are limited by the deficiencies of your vision. Whether your vision is naturally deficient, or sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought, I cannot say.
You know, dear cousin, that there are some very strangely built people: at the first glance one recognizes them as deformed, and yet on closer inspection one cannot say where the deformity lies.
Many years had passed, and the two Magi had quarrelled, for learned men are more ready to quarrel, the more learned they are.
It may be, after all," said the Student Anselmus to himself, "that the superfine stomachic liqueur, which I took somewhat freely in Monsieur Conradi's, might really be the cause of all these shocking phantasms, which tortured me so at Archivarius Lindhorst's door.
Suddenly you see a tall, thin man approaching, whose extraordinary costume immediately rivets your attention. Perched on top of a jet-black wig he wears a small grey felt hat, and everything else about him—coat, waistcoat, trousers, socks and shoes—is grey to match. Even his preternaturally long walking stick is painted grey. He comes striding towards you, with his great deep-set eyes staring straight at you, but appears to be quite unaware of your existence.
Once upon a time—what author nowadays dare begin his tale in such a way? 'Old-fashioned! Boring!' cries the kind or rather unkind reader...
I wished I could read in their shrivelled faces and watery eyes, I wished I could hear in the bad French which came half through their pinched lips and half through their pointed noses, how the old ladies had got at least on to good terms with the uncanny beings which haunted the castle.
O prejudice, prejudice that cries out to Heaven, what a hold you have on humanity, and in particular on those specimens of humanity known as publishers!
