The Wounded Storyteller
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The Wounded Storyteller
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See moreE. T. A. Hoffmann’s classic tales of Gothic horror and fantasy are presented in a new translation accompanying the beguiling drawings of Natalie Frank
E. T. A. Hoffmann (1776–1822) was one of the greatest German Romantic authors of fantasy and a pioneer in the genre we now call Gothic horror. His innovative stories explore ideas of madness, genius, doppelgängers, artificial intelligence, and the boundaries between realities and dreams.
Artist Natalie Frank and leading fairy-tale scholar Jack Zipes have joined forces in this lavishly illustrated volume of five of Hoffmann’s most influential tales: The Golden Pot, The Sandman, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, The Mystifying Child, and The Mines of Falun.
In addition to offering fresh translations, Zipes introduces the project and sheds light on how Hoffmann’s lifetime of personal traumas shaped his writing. Frank’s richly rendered gouache and chalk pastels reveal Hoffmann’s worlds in full-page drawings and marginalia. Pivotal scenes of transformation, courage, love, desire, and betrayal are illustrated through a feminist lens, focusing on strong, self-aware female characters.
A foreword by novelist Karen Russell delves into the influence the tales had on her own literary career and the ways in which she emulates Hoffmann today. The Wounded Storyteller will introduce Hoffmann’s timeless work to a new generation of readers.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
The reviews highlight the book's vivid and unsettling artwork by Natalie Frank, perfectly complementing Hoffmann's fantastical narratives, creating a combined visual and literary experience. Critics praise the book's exploration of uncanny themes, noting its enduring relevancy and influence on significant cultural figures and works. The collaboration between Frank and translator Jack Zipes is commended for bringing renewed energy and contemporary relevance to these classic tales.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780300263190
Publisher: Yale University Press
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 30 May 2023
Country: United States
Imprint: Yale University Press
Illustration: 200 color illus.
Contributors:
- Translated by Jack Zipes
- Illustrated by Natalie Frank
- Foreword by Karen Russell
- Translated by Jack Zipes
- Translated by Jack Zipes
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Width: 224.0mm
Height: 305.0mm
Weight: 250g
Pages: 304
About the Author
E. T. A. Hoffmann was a German Romantic author of fantasy and horror, as well as a lawyer, composer, music critic, and artist. Jack Zipes is professor emeritus of German and comparative literature at the University of Minnesota and an esteemed scholar of fairy tales. Natalie Frank is an acclaimed artist known for her previous books of fairy tales, including Tales of the Brothers Grimm. Karen Russell is an American fiction writer whose work includes the story collections Orange World and Vampires in the Lemon Grove and the novel Swamplandia!
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