Devil's Elixir

This early work by E. T. A. Hoffmann was originally published in 1824. Born in Konigsberg, East Prussia in 1776, Hoffmann's family were all jurists, and during his youth he was initially encouraged to pursue a career in law. However, in his late teens Hoffman became increasingly interested in literature and philosophy, and spent much of his time reading German classicists and attending lectures by...