E.T.A. Hoffmann (1776–1822) is celebrated for his supernatural fiction such as 'The Sandman' as well as his musical achievements, notably the opera Undine. This book offers a concise yet comprehensive introduction to Hoffmann as a Romantic writer, composer and public figure. It follows his life as a lawyer, theatre director and senior judge in Berlin, where he clashed with authorities over their persecution of student radicals. Drawing on Hoffmann’s personal writings and contemporary recollections, it also highlights how historical events like Napoleon’s invasion disrupted his career. By combining his literary and musical contributions, the book presents Hoffmann as a multifaceted artist whose inventiveness, both comic and spine-chilling, remain influential today.

"In this concise yet informative and incisive study, Ritchie Robertson investigates Hoffmann’s lesser-known achievements in music, figurative art and legal practice to generate new insights into familiar literary works. Not least, the result is a productive biographical perspective on Hoffmann himself." - Nicholas Saul, Professor Emeritus of German Intellectual and Literary History, Durham University

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Hoffmann’s world springs to life in Robertson’s prose. The Gothic writer of longstanding stereotype comes back into the light as a multi-talented Romantic with his finger on the pulse of modernity. Rich in detail and insightful readings, this study is, like the best of Hoffmann himself, both deeply empathetic and entertaining. Indispensable.