The E. T. A. Hoffmann Thread

[GOLLUM]

I'll try to join in around that time Extollager, work commitments depending...I can always post later into next week.

Anyone wondering what the caption on the iilustration is, it says "The Sandman, 'pen and ink drawing' by E.T.A. Hoffman".

There are not that many of his drawings I've seen floating about though.

[j. d. worthington]

I'd like to but, like Mr. G, it depends largely on how things go otherwise. If possible, though, it would be something I'd enjoy....

[Forgotten Realms]

I have never read something from E.T.A. Hoffmann, but I like the gothic novel writers in general. My favourites here are "Melmoth the Wanderer" by Charles Robert Maturin and "The Castle of Otranto" by Horace Walpole.

[j. d. worthington]

Originally Posted by Forgotten Realms

I have never read something from E.T.A. Hoffmann, but I like the gothic novel writers in general. My favourites here are "Melmoth the Wanderer" by Charles Robert Maturin and "The Castle of Otranto" by Horace Walpole.

Interesting contrast there. Without meaning to take the thread off-topic -- but definitely with the idea of being a bit facetious -- those two pretty much form "the alpha and the omega" of the classic Gothic....

[Extollager]

Originally Posted by j. d. worthington

I'd like to but, like Mr. G, it depends largely on how things go otherwise. If possible, though, it would be something I'd enjoy....

"The Sandman" is about 35 pages, so not a big undertaking!

[j. d. worthington]

It's not the length; it's the dense richness of the text. This isn't a tale I think can be read quickly, but must be savored and contemplated even while reading.... Still, I think I can probably have a chance to read it Sunday, barring unforeseen complications....

[Extollager]

Originally Posted by j. d. worthington

It's not the length; it's the dense richness of the text. This isn't a tale I think can be read quickly, but must be savored and contemplated even while reading.... Still, I think I can probably have a chance to read it Sunday, barring unforeseen complications....

I'm sure you're right. I've read "The Sandman" but not for years. I expect it will be a slow.... delectable..... read.

[HoopyFrood]

I'll give it a go (I know the text is lurking somewhere, I had it not too long ago) but my reading is sorely lacking these days, so my stamina might fail on me, even for something short.

[Extollager]

I've posted a link to "The Sandman" at #15 above. I hope to offer some comments on the story on Dec. 7 and that others will have their own ideas about the story to share.

[HoopyFrood]

Trying not to ruin my eyes more than I already have Computer text makes my eyes jump around like crazy (one of those reader types who just picks up enough salient words to know what's going on).

Pretty sure I know which drawer the text is hiding in.

[Extollager]

Reading the story in a book is, I'm sure, preferable for most people (I'm reading it in an Oxford World's Classics paperback, The Golden Pot Etc), but I thought some Chronsfolk who might like to participate in discussion might not have "The Sandman" in a book in time to jump in on Wednesday.

It's reeeally weird.

[HoopyFrood]

Oh, quite, was only saying why I was still digging around for my text based copy.

...which is actually in a collection of various texts that we had to read in first year uni.



And ooooh yes. It's weird.

[Boneman]

Dammit, I'm uncertain whether to join in or not: we only read the Sandman in the psychoanalysis part of my creative writing, since Freud used it so much, as Hoopy pointed out. That Freud can suck the life out of any enjoyable text...

[Extollager]

I do hope JD Worthington will participate in the discussion! He'd bring wide reading to the conversation but is not Freud-ridden.

[HoopyFrood]

I think I managed to escape Freud within a few weeks...found other critical theories much more appealing!