Publisher's Synopsis
Councillor Krespel is a novella by German author E. T. A. Hoffmann. The story follows the life of the titular character, Councillor Krespel, a talented violinist and clockmaker who lives a solitary life in a small village. Krespel is known for his eccentric behavior and his obsession with his beautiful daughter, Antonia, whom he keeps isolated from the outside world.One day, a young man named Nathanael arrives in the village and becomes enamored with Antonia. As Nathanael tries to win her heart, he begins to unravel the dark secrets of Krespel's past and the true nature of his obsession with his daughter. The story takes a supernatural turn as Nathanael discovers the truth behind Krespel's clockwork creations and the mysterious figure of the Sandman, who seems to be at the center of Krespel's madness.Councillor Krespel is a haunting tale of love, obsession, and madness, filled with Hoffmann's signature blend of Gothic horror and psychological suspense. The novella has been praised for its masterful storytelling and vivid descriptions, as well as its exploration of themes such as identity, creativity, and the power of the imagination.He described, with the bitterest irony, the quite peculiar ingenuity with which Signora Angela began, as soon as she was his wife, to torment and torture him. All the selfishness, caprice, and obstinacy of all the prima donnas on earth rolled into one were, so Krespel considered, incorporated in Angela's little body.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.