Publisher's Synopsis
The Cremona Violin is a novella written by E. T. A. Hoffmann, a German Romantic author and composer. The story follows the life of a young violinist named Christian, who becomes obsessed with a mysterious and beautiful violin made by the legendary Italian craftsman, Stradivari. Christian's pursuit of the violin leads him to a series of strange and supernatural events, including encounters with ghosts and demons, as well as a sinister violinist who seems to have a connection to the instrument. As Christian's obsession deepens, he begins to lose his grip on reality, leading to a tragic and haunting conclusion. The Cremona Violin is a classic example of Hoffmann's gothic style, blending elements of horror and fantasy with his love of music and the supernatural.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.
