The son of a heinous sinner, Medardus is brought up in a monastery to atone for his father’s wicked ways. After succumbing to temptation, however, Medardus himself is lured into a life of sin, and he embarks upon a fantastical journey in which he meets his doppelganger, involves himself in a game of double impersonation, and becomes embroiled in murderous intrigues at the Vatican. First published in 1815, this is a macabre masterpiece of German literature.
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About the Author
E.T.A. Hoffmann (1776–1822) was a German composer, caricaturist, critic, and author. His works include The Golden Pot and Other Tales and The Life and Opinions of the Tomcat Murr. Ronald Taylor is a scholar and author who specializes in German intellectual history.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Great story, so-so translation,
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This review is from: The Devil's Elixirs (Paperback)
It's great that this novel (only one of two by Hoffmann) is again available to readers of English. The story -- the adventures of an utterly bonkers, casually homicidal monk with a mysterious and somewhat sinister pedigree -- itself is great macabre fun with a hint of satire.Unfortunately, the translation is not particularly good. At times the prose comes across as clunky and ill-thought-out. In fact, it often reads as if the translator simply typed each sentence into a translation program, e.g. "Karl der Grosse" is translated at one point as "Karl of Grossen" rather than the more accurate name of "Charlemagne."
4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best Translation of Hoffmann in English,
By Spon (US) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Devil's Elixirs (Paperback)
It's a shame that only a handful of Hoffmann's work is available in English, and much of what we do have consists of 19th century renderings mired in the mannered, stilted phrasings and irritatingly turgid sentence structure which, in Victorian times proved that an author was "good." Ian Sumter has produced the best book-length edition of Hoffmann in English. His prose is clear, concise, and never muddled, so that the author's oftentimes ambiguous and deceptive scenarios are not confusing, as other translators have made them.The Devil's Elixirs is some of Hoffmann's best writing. It is a swift-moving , engaging story that boasts many complex psychological themes, and, of course, countless overlapping motifs, double identities, and confusions between reality and the interpretation of reality. It is at once witty and nightmarishly frightening, and easily overshadows the tame and shapeless Tomcat Muir in both style and substance. A great novel that has been out of print in English for nearly a century. Grab it while it's available.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
The Monk with a happier ending,
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This review is from: The Devil's Elixirs (Paperback)
I give this only three stars because as far as Hoffmann goes The Golden Pot and Master Flea were better and tighter novels, in my opinion. However, The Devil's Elixirs makes for a fascinating read.
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