Customer Reviews

Devils Elixirs

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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."

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.

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.

I had been a great fan of Hoffmann for many years but had never found this book in English - seems to have been out of print for ages.

The story has a real air of mystery and suspense as you have to try and work out what is happening to Medardus and who is committing the crimes.

There are some good comedy moments too - particularly with an insane hairdresser and a drunken Irishman!

Well worth the wait!

It is a shame that the book is out of print and extremely hard to find. I read it long time ago in Russian, and cannot wait to find a copy in English. A mindblowing outlook on human excistance and moral dillemas.

Ova knjiga se nikako ne moze zaobici. Od velike vaznosti za razvoj evropske knjizevnosti.