Publisher's Synopsis
The Cremona Violin is a classic horror story written by E. T. A. Hoffmann. The story is about a violin made by the famous Italian violin maker Antonio Stradivari, known as the ""Cremona violin"". The violin is said to possess a supernatural power that can make anyone who hears it play it, lose their mind. The story revolves around a young violinist named Kreisler who becomes obsessed with the Cremona violin and its mysterious powers. He eventually acquires the violin and becomes a virtuoso, but at a terrible cost. As he becomes more and more consumed by the violin's power, he begins to lose his grip on reality and descends into madness. The story is a haunting tale of obsession, madness, and the power of music. Hoffmann's writing style is known for its vivid descriptions and surreal imagery, which adds to the eerie atmosphere of the story. The Cremona Violin is a must-read for fans of horror and classic literature.I am perfectly convinced that there is something especially exceptional in its inner construction, and that, if I took it to pieces, a secret would be revealed to me which have long been seeking to discover, but--laugh at me if you like--this senseless thing which only gives signs of life and sound as I make it, often speaks to me in a strange way. The first time I played upon it I somehow fancied that I was only the magnetizer who has the power of moving his subject to reveal of his own accord in words the visions of his inner nature.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.