The Devil's Elixirs [Paperback]

E.T.A Hoffmann (Author), Ian Sumter (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2007

The charismatic monk Medardus becomes implicated in a deadly mystery against his will. As he travels towards Rome he wrestles with the enigma of his own identity while pursued by his murderous doppelganger. The monk's only hope for salvation lies with the beautiful Aurelie; but in order to escape the curse which lies over his family, he must evade the sinister powers of the living and the dead. In this lively and disturbing gothic tale, Hoffmann combines elements of the fantastic and the sublime to analyse the seductive ambiguities of art and the deeply divided nature of the human imagination.

Editorial Reviews

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.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Grosvenor House Publishing Limited (June 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1906210187
• ISBN-13: 978-1906210182
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #518,366 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great story, so-so translation, December 29, 2007

By 

Brendan J. Foreman (University Heights, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews
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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, September 16, 2007

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, September 16, 2007

By 

Rose Gonella "Dragonrose" (Lancaster, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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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.