Books by E. T. A. Hoffmann

The Story of the Nutcracker Coloring Book (Dover Classic Stories Coloring Book)

by E. T. A. Hoffmann

A perennial favorite at Christmastime, this captivating story of a little girl's love for an enchanted nutcracker will delight youngsters (and the young at heart) the year round. Illustrator Thea Kliros captures the mood and charm of E. T. A. Hoffmann's beloved classic in her simplified coloring book version of the original story. Thirty-six ready-to-color line drawings need only a touch of color from crayons, felt-tip pens, or colored pencils to bring a host of memorable characters and enchanting scenes to vivid life.
Coloring book enthusiasts can participate directly in the drama and fantasy of an engaging tale that imaginatively describes Christmas Eve at the Stahlbaum household, the arrival of eccentric Godpapa Drosselmeier, the presentation of the Nutcracker, the battle between Nutcracker and the seven-headed King of the Mice, adventures in Christmas Wood, and many other scenes.

Nutcracker, The

by E. T. A. Hoffmann

One of six beloved Christmas classics in collectible hardcover editions

Written in 1816 by one of the leaders of German Romanticism for his children, nephews, and nieces, The Nutcracker captures better than any other story a child’s wonder at Christmas. The gift of a handsomely decorated nutcracker from a mysterious uncle sets the stage for a Christmas Eve like no other for the little girl Marie. That night, Marie’s extraordinary present comes to life, defends her from the taunting Mouse King, and whisks her off to the Kingdom of Dolls. The inspiration for the classic ballet, E. T. A. Hoffmann’s irresistible tale of magic and childhood adventure continues to captivate readers of all ages. Today, many of the most enchanting symbols of Christmas, from nutcrackers to sugar plums to mistletoe, are still imbued with the power of this story.

Penguin Christmas Classics

Give the gift of literature this Christmas.

Penguin Christmas Classics honor the power of literature to keep on giving through the ages. The six volumes in the series are not only our most beloved Christmas tales, they also have given us much of what we love about the holiday itself. A Christmas Carol revived in Victorian England such Christmas hallmarks as the Christmas tree, holiday cards, and caroling. The Yuletide yarns of Anthony Trollope popularized throughout the British Empire and around the world the trappings of Christmas in London. The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus created the origin story for the presiding spirit of Christmas as we know it. The holiday tales of Louisa May Alcott shaped the ideal of an American Christmas. The Night Before Christmas brought forth some of our earliest Christmas traditions as passed down through folk tales. And The Nutcracker inspired the most famous ballet in history, one seen by millions in the twilight of every year.

Beautifully designed hardcovers—with foil-stamped jackets, decorative endpapers, and nameplates for personalization—in a small trim size that makes them perfect stocking stuffers, Penguin Christmas Classics embody the spirit of giving that is at the heart of our most time-honored stories about the holiday.

Collect all six Penguin Christmas Classics:

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Christmas at Thompson Hall: And Other Christmas Stories by Anthony Trollope
The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum
A Merry Christmas: And Other Christmas Stories by Louisa May Alcott
The Night Before Christmas by Nikolai Gogol
The Nutcracker by E. T. A. Hoffmann

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

The Wounded Storyteller: The Traumatic Tales of E. T. A. Hoffmann

by E. T. A. Hoffmann

E. T. A. Hoffmann’s classic tales of Gothic horror and fantasy are presented in a new translation accompanying the beguiling drawings of Natalie Frank

“Sumptuous. . . . [Natalie Frank’s] artwork . . . is gruesome perfection.”—Meghan Cox Gurdon, Wall Street Journal

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.

The Nutcracker

by Stephanie Spinner, unknown author, E. T. A. Hoffmann, Fiona Watt, Karen Kain, Berlie Doherty, Niroot Puttapipat, Virginia Unser, Wendy W. Malinow, John Cech, New York City Ballet

This pocket-size edition of The Nutcracker captures the magic of the original story with an array of enticing illustrations. In The Nutcracker, Michael Hague's show-stopping artwork brings the excitement of this festive holiday story to life.

The timeless appeal of this classical Christmas tales in this visually stunning mini edition is a glorious tribute to the most magical night of the year.

The Nutcracker

by Stephanie Spinner, unknown author, E. T. A. Hoffmann, Fiona Watt, Karen Kain, Berlie Doherty, Niroot Puttapipat, Virginia Unser, Wendy W. Malinow, John Cech, New York City Ballet

Christmas just isn’t Christmas without The Nutcracker! This beautiful book, which includes a fully orchestrated CD of the score, invites children to dance, prance, and relive the ballet long after the tree comes down.

Peter Malone’s exquisite illustrations capture all the magic of The Nutcracker’s most memorable scenes: the Christmas Eve party, Godfather Drosselmeyer’s spellbinding visit, and the ferocious battle between the Mouse King and the Nutcracker. Marie’s journey to the Land of Sweets, where the Sugar Plum Fairy welcomes her with exuberant dancers from around the globe—and toothsome desserts—springs to life as never before.

Stephanie Spinner’s lyrical text, Peter Malone’s jewel-like artwork, and a sparkling performance of Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s unforgettable music make this a gift to inspire even the very youngest dancer.

The Nutcracker

by Stephanie Spinner, unknown author, E. T. A. Hoffmann, Fiona Watt, Karen Kain, Berlie Doherty, Niroot Puttapipat, Virginia Unser, Wendy W. Malinow, John Cech, New York City Ballet

From School Library Journal Grade 2-4–E. T. A. Hoffmann's fantastical tale about a girl and a wooden nutcracker has been retold and reinvented countless times since it first appeared in 1816. This version, based on the 1891 Tchaikovsky ballet, is told from the viewpoint of an elderly Clara. The story unfolds very slowly and rather unevenly, with a number of pages at the beginning devoted to the children waiting for Godfather Drosselmeyer to arrive, and only one page near the end mentioning the celebration in the Kingdom of Sweets. Doherty also makes some distracting word choices–describing the Sugar Plum Fairy's dress as "spiky" for example. Beck's delicate watercolor-and-ink illustrations and borders invite second and third looks with their wealth of detail. However, Geraldine McCaughrean's retelling of the ballet story (Oxford, 1999) or Sarah L. Thomson's version combining the original and the ballet, illustrated by Michael Hague (SeaStar, 2003), are better choices.–M. A. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Product Description A gift-book to treasure for all fans of this wonderful old story and ballet. It is Christmas Eve and Clara is overjoyed when Godfather Drosselmeyer gives her a nutcracker in the shape of a wooden soldier. But it is at night that the magic really begins, when toys come alive, young girls become princesses and Clara’s brave nutcracker becomes the prince of her dreams. This beautiful and lyrical re-telling of Hoffman’s much-loved Nutcracker story, from which the famous ballet was created, is exquisitely and enchantingly illustrated, making it a book to treasure. Review “This beautifully designed work will serve as an excellent preparation for children before seeing a holiday ballet performance. ” -- Kirkus Reviews From the Publisher Welcome to a world where magic really happens—where toys come alive, young girls become princesses, and Clara’s brave nutcracker becomes the prince of her dreams. A book that will be treasured for years to come. Berlie Doherty has won the coveted Carnegie Medal for both Granny Was a Buffer Girl and Dear Nobody. She also won the Writer’s Guild Children’s fiction Award for Daughter of the Sea. Ian Beck is the highly praised illustrator and author of many books for children, including The Jumblies and Teddy’s Snowy Day. Also available in paperback. From the Inside Flap to treasure for all fans of this wonderful old story and ballet.It is Christmas Eve and Clara is overjoyed when Godfather Drosselmeyer gives her a nutcracker in the shape of a wooden soldier. But it is at night that the magic really begins, when toys come alive, young girls become princesses and Clara’s brave nutcracker becomes the prince of her dreams.This beautiful and lyrical retelling of Hoffman’s much-loved Nutcracker story, from which the famous ballet was created, is exquisitely and enchantingly illustrated, making it a book to treasure. About the Author Berlie Doherty is twice-winner of the Carnegie Medal and a best-selling author of picture books and fiction.

The Nutcracker

by Stephanie Spinner, unknown author, E. T. A. Hoffmann, Fiona Watt, Karen Kain, Berlie Doherty, Niroot Puttapipat, Virginia Unser, Wendy W. Malinow, John Cech, New York City Ballet

Hoffmann's classic Christmas fairy tale, immortalized by Tchaikovsky's ballet, is brought to life by the gorgeous contemporary artwork of Finnish illustrator Sanna Annukka, and is the perfect holiday gift for adults and children alike. The Nutcracker captures, better than any other story, a child's wonder at Christmas.

On Christmas Eve, Fritz and Marie excitedly await the arrival of Godfather Drosselmeier and the marvelous gifts he brings for them every year. When Marie discovers a rather curious nutcracker doll amongst the presents, she suddenly finds herself caught up in an age-old battle and ultimately transported to a magical world of sugar-frosted castles, chocolate kings, and true love. This cloth-bound edition combines the charm of Hoffmann's original eighteenth-century tale with the freshness of Sanna Annukka's gorgeous illustrations in this striking keepsake edition that will be treasured and reread by you and your loved ones for years to come.

The Nutcracker

by Stephanie Spinner, unknown author, E. T. A. Hoffmann, Fiona Watt, Karen Kain, Berlie Doherty, Niroot Puttapipat, Virginia Unser, Wendy W. Malinow, John Cech, New York City Ballet

An exquisite gift edition of The Nutcracker captures the spirit of the Christmas ballet in elegant illustrations—and delivers a glorious pop-up finale.

The Nutcracker is one of the world’s most popular ballets, telling the captivating story of Clara and the Nutcracker prince as they journey into a land of fantasy. Inspired by Marius Petipa’s sets for the original production of the ballet, Niroot Puttapipat’s delicate silhouette illustrations dance across pale, watercolor-washed backgrounds in a unique interpretation. Starkly beautiful, this keepsake edition evokes all the magic and anticipation of Christmas Eve as Clara and the prince waltz between worlds—and culminates in a 3-D spread bringing the dreamlike Land of Sweets to life.

The Nutcracker

by Stephanie Spinner, unknown author, E. T. A. Hoffmann, Fiona Watt, Karen Kain, Berlie Doherty, Niroot Puttapipat, Virginia Unser, Wendy W. Malinow, John Cech, New York City Ballet

This sumptuous sound book is based on the beloved classic and retold for younger children to provide an ideal introduction to the story. Press the embedded sounds to hear the music that goes along with the story. Press-a-Sound BooksPress the sign on each page to hear wonderful sounds and noises. The beautiful illustrations complement these beautiful first picture books for young children with fully embedded sounds.

The Nutcracker

by Stephanie Spinner, unknown author, E. T. A. Hoffmann, Fiona Watt, Karen Kain, Berlie Doherty, Niroot Puttapipat, Virginia Unser, Wendy W. Malinow, John Cech, New York City Ballet

Misha and Marie are thrilled that Christmas is coming. It’s a frosty night, the neighbors are all invited, and Peter the stable boy is sweeping the barn in preparation for the dancing to come. But there’s a disappointment in store. Instead of the beautiful doll she’d hoped for, the only thing strange old Uncle Nikolai has for Marie is a wooden nutcracker. Marie thinks it’s a wonderful gift. Little does she know that it will lead her and her brother on the adventure of a lifetime.

When Misha and Marie finally go to bed on Christmas Eve, they sleep fitfully and are beset by nightmares. In one particularly bad dream, they join forces — unusual for the squabbling children — and conquer an army that might harm the nutcracker. Their reward is splendid: they are swept to the realm of the Snow Queen for a night of wonders.

James Kudelka, the Artistic Director of the National Ballet of Canada, is one of North America’s foremost dance artists. His vision of The Nutcracker is elegantly told by Karen Kain and beautifully rendered by artist Rajka Kupesic, herself a ballet dancer.

The Nutcracker

by Stephanie Spinner, unknown author, E. T. A. Hoffmann, Fiona Watt, Karen Kain, Berlie Doherty, Niroot Puttapipat, Virginia Unser, Wendy W. Malinow, John Cech, New York City Ballet

After hearing how her toy nutcracker got his ugly face, a little girl helps break the spell and watches him change into a handsome prince.

The Nutcracker

by Stephanie Spinner, unknown author, E. T. A. Hoffmann, Fiona Watt, Karen Kain, Berlie Doherty, Niroot Puttapipat, Virginia Unser, Wendy W. Malinow, John Cech, New York City Ballet

What a special Christmas gift this will be: the beloved holiday fantasy, beautifully retold by John Cech (author of our Classic Fairy Tale series) and illustrated by Eric Puybaret, whose imaginative art helped turn Puff, the Magic Dragon into a blockbuster. Cech bases his version on E.T.A. Hoffman’s original, which features not only the story familiar to all ballet lovers, but other wondrous adventures—including the tale of Princess Pirlipat and an explanation of the origins of the Nutcracker himself.Lavishly and elegantly packaged, this belongs under every child’s tree.

The Nutcracker

by Stephanie Spinner, unknown author, E. T. A. Hoffmann, Fiona Watt, Karen Kain, Berlie Doherty, Niroot Puttapipat, Virginia Unser, Wendy W. Malinow, John Cech, New York City Ballet

The New York City Ballet presents a classic ballet tale for a modern ballet lover with George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, a holiday favorite.

The New York City Ballet is known for showcasing classic stories of the ballet with their trademark stylish and modern sensibility. For the first time, this beloved holiday story is told based on George Balanchine’s quintessential production. The storyline of this gorgeous picture book mimics the choreography of the famous ballet and the illustrations are inspired by the backdrops and scenery from the actual production.

The New York City Ballet’s production of the Nutcracker is considered to be “the” leading production in the world. A holiday tradition for many families, now readers who can’t travel to New York will be able to experience this colorful celebratory story. A must-have for every aspiring ballerina’s library and a holiday tradition for every family’s bookshelf.

The Nutcracker

by Stephanie Spinner, unknown author, E. T. A. Hoffmann, Fiona Watt, Karen Kain, Berlie Doherty, Niroot Puttapipat, Virginia Unser, Wendy W. Malinow, John Cech, New York City Ballet

Celebrate the holidays with this bestselling Christmas classic.

Adults as well as children look forward to attending an annual performance of The Nutcracker. To sweeten the anticipation and prolong the joy -- or just to establish a lovely tradition -- settle in with this charming retelling of a young girl's dreamy visit to the Land of the Sugarplum Fairy. The story is enhanced with magnificent color illustrations created especially for this edition by the late award-winning artist Don Daily. This high-quality, handsomely produced volume is destined to be a holiday favorite for years to come.

The Nutcracker

by Stephanie Spinner, unknown author, E. T. A. Hoffmann, Fiona Watt, Karen Kain, Berlie Doherty, Niroot Puttapipat, Virginia Unser, Wendy W. Malinow, John Cech, New York City Ballet

E.T.A. Hoffmann’s whimsical novella, originally titled Nutcracker and Mouse King and the inspiration behind Tchaikovsky’s ballet, now has a festive new look in this beautiful edition.

When Maria is given a nutcracker by her mysterious Godfather Drosselmeier, it seems like an ordinary gift. But as the clock strikes midnight on Christmas Eve, she finds her nutcracker embroiled in a fight with a sinister Mouse King—no ordinary toy after all, but a cursed hero. Together, they embark on a fantastical journey, encountering a host of charming characters.

Filled with Christmas magic and festive scenes full of presents, sugarplums, and gingerbread, this imaginative classic has been a part of annual holiday celebrations for generations.

The Nutcracker (Penguin Bedtime Classics)

by E. T. A. Hoffmann

Bedtime Classics: charmingly illustrated board book editions of perennial favorites, simplified for the youngest readers!

Bedtime Classics introduce classic works of fiction to little literary scholars through character-driven narratives and colorful illustration. Designed to be the perfect one minute bedtime story (or five minutes--if you're begged to read it over and over) parents can feel good about exposing their children to some of the most iconic pieces of literature, while building their child's bookshelf with these trendy editions!

On Christmas Eve, Clara is given a special gift from her Godfather--a beautiful nutcracker doll. But when Clara awakes in the middle of the night, she finds her beloved nutcracker has transformed into a handsome prince, and together, they set off for the Land of Sweets.

The Nutcracker: A Young Reader’s Edition of the Holiday Classic

by E. T. A. Hoffmann

Celebrate the holidays with this bestselling Christmas classic.

Adults as well as children look forward to attending an annual performance of The Nutcracker. To sweeten the anticipation and prolong the joy -- or just to establish a lovely tradition -- settle in with this charming retelling of a young girl's dreamy visit to the Land of the Sugarplum Fairy. The story is enhanced with magnificent color illustrations created especially for this edition by the late award-winning artist Don Daily. This high-quality, handsomely produced volume is destined to be a holiday favorite for years to come.

Christmas Classics Collection: The Nutcracker, Old Christmas, A Christmas Carol (Deluxe 3-Book Boxed Set)

by Charles Dickens, E. T. A. Hoffmann, Washington Irving

This ornate 3-volume box set brings together the classic Christmas tales, A Christmas Carol, The Nutcracker, and Old Christmas, presented as delightful pocket editions with gilded page edges and classic illustrations.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens tells the tale of grumpy miser Ebenezer Scrooge and his visits from three Christmas spirits who show him the error of his ways. Through his visions of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, he discovers the true meaning of Christmas - a time of peace and goodwill to all men. This facsimile edition features original full-color illustrations by Randolph Caldecott.

Old Christmas by Washington Irving includes five stories which describe English traditions of Christmas. They recall the festivities that Irving experienced while visiting a remote English mansion, including the sumptuous banquet and joyful family time of the Christmas dinner. These nostalgic recollections of Christmas in 19th century England are a wonderful way to learn about festive traditions and relish in the cosy charm of a vintage Christmas. This edition features original black and white illustrations by John Leech.

The Nutcracker by E. T. A. Hoffmann tells the tale of Marie and her nutcracker doll which comes to life! The Nutcracker must fight the Mouse King and his armies with the help of an entire cabinet of Marie's playthings. He then whisks Marie away to a magical kingdom populated by dolls. This fantastical tale is a timeless classic of the Christmas season and went on to inspire Tchaikovsky's world-famous ballet, The Nutcracker. This edition includes traditional black and white illustrations.

A wonderful way to bring in the Yuletide season, these classics tales celebrate the traditions and significance of Christmas time and its festivities. They are each presented with beautiful foil embossed cover designs with gilded page edges which together fit handsomely into a decorative box set.

The Golden Pot: and other tales of the uncanny

by E. T. A. Hoffmann

“I could list plausible comparisons all day and night, but The Golden Pot is simply unlike anything else I have ever read.” — Justin Taylor, The Washington Post

Macabre and fantastical, Hoffmann’s wildly imaginative tales offer an unflinching view of human nature and sing clearer than ever in a masterful new translation

Whether a surrealist exploration of the anxieties surrounding automation, or a mystery concerning a goldsmith, missing jewels, and a spate of murders, each tale in this collection reveals the complexities of human desire and fear.

Hoffman, whose most famous work is “The Nutcracker,” is often compared to Edgar Allan Poe. Hoffman’s massive influence qualifies him as the godfather of the German Romantic Movement which led to the horror genre.

The macabre, fantastical nature of his subject matter inspired a broad swath of culture, with two of the longer stories in this collection “The Sandman” and “The Automaton” influencing Philip K. Dick’s original inspiration for Blade Runner. The murder mystery “Mademoiselle de Scudéry” is perhaps one of the earliest prototypes of the detective genre story.

Music and madness flow through E.T.A. Hoffmann’s phantasmagoric stories. The ringing of crystal bells heralds the arrival of a beguiling snake, and a student’s descent into lunacy; a young man abandons his betrothed for a woman who plays the piano skillfully but seems worryingly wooden; a counselor’s daughter must choose between singing and her life.

Peter Wortsman’s masterful new translation allows Hoffmann’s distinct and influential style to shine, while breathing new life into stories that seem both familiar and uncanny.

Der Goldne Topf

by E. T. A. Hoffmann

Der goldne Topf, Hoffmanns »Märchen aus der neuen Zeit«, spielt virtuos mit den Ebenen des Wunderbaren und des Bürgerlich-Philiströsen. Der Weg des Studenten Anselmus von Dresden nach Atlantis wird phantasievoll-humoristisch erzählt und zugleich ironisch reflektiert. Seit langem und mit Recht gilt der Märchenroman als ein Höhepunkt romantischer Erzählkunst.

The Life and Opinions of the Tomcat Murr (Penguin Classics)

by E. T. A. Hoffmann

Tomcat Murr is a loveable, self-taught animal who has written his own autobiography. But a printer's error causes his story to be accidentally mixed and spliced with a book about the composer Johannes Kreisler. As the two versions break off and alternate at dramatic moments, two wildly different characters emerge from the confusion - Murr, the confident scholar, lover, carouser and brawler, and the moody, hypochondriac genius Kreisler. In his exuberant and bizarre novel, Hoffmann brilliantly evokes the fantastic, the ridiculous and the sublime within the humdrum bustle of daily life, making The Life and Opinions of the Tomcat Murr (1820-22) one of the funniest and strangest novels of the nineteenth century.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

Christmas Classics (RP Minis)

by Charles Dickens, Clement Clarke Moore, E. T. A. Hoffmann

This collectible box set includes 3 classic 2-1/2 x 3" miniature books for this special slipcase edition:

The Night Before Christmas, by Clement C. Moore, illustrated by Christian Birmingham The Nutcracker, from the story by E.T.A. Hoffmann, illustrated by Don Daily A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Christian Birmingham

The Golden Pot and Other Tales: A New Translation by Ritchie Robertson

by E. T. A. Hoffmann

Hoffmann, among the greatest and most popular of the German Romantics, is renowned for his humorous and sometimes horrifying tales of supernatural beings. This selection, while stressing the variety of his work, focuses on those stories in which the real and the supernatural are brought into contact and conflict. This new translation includes The Golden Pot, The Sandman, Princess Brambilla, Master Flea, and My Cousin's Corner Window.

About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Tales of E. T. A. Hoffmann

by E. T. A. Hoffmann

Ranging from macabre fantasies to fairy tales and tales of crime, these stories from the author of The Nutcracker create a rich fictional world. Hoffman paints a complex vision of humanity, where people struggle to establish identities in a hostile, absurd world.

"The editors have made an excellent selection, and the result is a book of great distinction."—Denis Donoghue, New York Review of Books

"The translators have proved fully equal to all the challenges of Hoffmann's romantic irony and his richly allusive prose, giving us an accurate and idiomatic rendering that also retains much of the original flavor."—Harry Zohn, Saturday Review

Nutcracker and Mouse King and The Tale of the Nutcracker (Penguin Classics)

by Alexandre Dumas, E. T. A. Hoffmann

The original stories behind everyone's favorite Christmas ballet

It wasn't until the 1950s that seeing The Nutcracker at Christmastime became an American tradition. But the story itself is much older and its original intent more complex. This eye-opening new volume presents two of the tale's earliest versions, both in new translations: E.T.A. Hoffmann's Nutcracker and Mouse King (1816), in which a young girl is whisked away to the Land of Toys to help her animated nutcracker defeat the Mouse King, and Alexandre Dumas's 1845 adaptation, The Tale of the Nutcracker, based on Hoffmann's popular work. Irresistible tales of magic, mystery, and childhood adventure, these timeless delights and fresh interpretations about the importance of imagination will captivate readers of all ages.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

The Essential Christmas Classics Collection (Boxed Set) A Christmas Carol; The Nutcracker; Twelve Classics of Christmas

by Charles Dickens, Various, E. T. A. Hoffmann

Celebrate the holidays with this collection of Christmas classics, including A Christmas Carol, The Nutcracker, and a collection of holiday short stories—together in one paperback boxed set!

Celebrate the season with this collection of popular holiday stories from Christmases past. This set includes E. T. A. Hoffmann’s The Nutcracker, the story of a girl’s Christmas gift coming to life and battling the sinister mouse king, which later inspired Tchaikovsky’s popular holiday ballet. Next is A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens’s renowned novella about the miserly Ebeneezer Scrooge being confronted with his greed and learning the meaning of Christmas.

Rounding out the set is The Twelve Classics of Christmas, a collection of twelve holiday short stories. From favorites like Clement C. Moore’s “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” and O. Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi” to lesser-known tales from beloved authors like Louisa May Alcott, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and the Brothers Grimm, this anthology is the perfect way to count down to Christmas.

This festive paperback boxed set includes:
A Christmas Carol
The Nutcracker
The Twelve Classics of Christmas

The Sandman - And Other Weird Tales

by E. T. A. Hoffmann

3 uncanny tales from “the godfather of modern horror and fantasy” (New York Review of Books) full of doppelgangers, unfulfillable desire, irony, and menace.

A deluxe collectible gift paperback featuring stunning sprayed edges and a beautiful art deco design!

Still celebrated as the foundational texts of modern fantasy and horror, these 3 unsettling tales of nightmares, madness, and otherworldly power represent renowned German author E.T.A. Hoffmann at his very best.

In “The Sandman”, young Nathanael grows up terrified of a legendary figure who will steal his eyes if he's caught out of bed at night - but it's only when Nathanael has grown to adulthood, seemingly settled and happy, that the full, terrifying truth unfolds. A living doll, a series of doppelgangers, and the seeds of madness combine in this classic story of self-destruction.

This obsession returns in “The Cremona Violin,” where suppressed passion and possessive control prove a fatal mix as an overbearing father grapples with his musically talented daughter who could die of heart failure if she unleashes the full power of her extraordinary voice.

The collection concludes with Hoffman’s arguable masterpiece, “The Golden Pot,” a novella-length tale, disturbing, exciting, and dream-like that introduces the bumbling Anselmus, whose romantic tribulations are complicated by a witch's curse and the fact that he's in love with a girl who also happens to be a snake.

Inspiring countless unearthly classics, from The Nutcracker to the works of Poe and Kafka, Hoffmann's doppelgangers, unattainable love objects, and sinister puppet masters have lived on, becoming key figures in the modern imagination.