The King's Betrothed

E. T. A. Hoffmann, born in 1776, shifted from a law career to embrace literature and philosophy, influenced by German classicists and thinkers like Kant. His notable works include "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King," which inspired Tchaikovsky's ballet, and "The Sandman," which influenced both ballet and Freud's essay "The Uncanny." Hoffmann is celebrated as a master of the uncanny in literature, with his stories leaving a lasting impact on various art forms. This edition aims to make his classic works accessible to modern readers.