Customer Reviews (1)

Hoffman is a phenomenal writer
E.T.A. Hoffman's stories are fun, and at the same time scary and horrifying, to read.The Sandman is my personal favorite right now because of the tension it creates in the reader and also because of itspsychological terror.Hoffman's writing is fluid and easy to visualize,which I believe is the mark of a good writer.Hoffman's use of thefantastic in his writing make his stories engaging and is reminescent ofRod Serling's Twilight Zone. ... Read more

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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. ... Read more

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For nearly two hundred years, E.T.A. Hoffmann's tale of the Nutcracker has enchanted readers, inspired artists and composers, and delighted audiences around the world. In cities and towns everywhere, children thrill to annual performances of Tchaikovsky's classic Christmas ballet about a girl named Marie who helps a wooden nutcracker defeat an evil army of mice, and is rewarded by a visit to the magical dream world, the Land of Toys. Lisbeth Zwerger's stunning, all-new interpretation on The Nutcracker, adapted from the original Hoffmann tale, rounds out the story depicted in the ballet, exploring the background of the feud between the Nutcracker and the seven-headed Mouse King, the true role of the mysterious Drosselmeier, the tragic fate of Princess Pirlipat, the spell cast by Mistress Mousie that is finally broken by loyal Marie, and the satisfying, happily-ever-after conclusion to the great battle and fantastic journey. In pictures filled with wit and whimsy, drama, mystery, and magic, Lisbeth Zwerger transports us to the darkest reaches and brightest beauty of this fairy-tale world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

christmas treasure
While this story may be longer and more complicated for the small child, the illustrations are magnificent! I suggest reading it over the course of a few nights at bedtime and let your children enjoy the magic. ... Read more

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Full-color illustrations--including six two-page spreads--elaborate pop-ups, pull-tabs, lift-the-flaps, and moving parts give a new look to the well-loved ballet story about Clara and her Christmas fantasy come to life. ... Read more

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Der Roman besteht aus zwei – zunächst als völlig getrennt erscheinenden – Geschichten:

Zum einen wird die Lebensgeschichte des Katers Murr erzählt. Der abstrakt denkende und gebildete Kater selbst fungiert als Ich-Erzähler und Autobiograf des Textes, der neben einer chronologischen Schilderung seiner Erlebnisse von seiner Geburt bis zum Zeitpunkt der Niederschrift zahlreiche ausführliche Kommentare und Reflexionen zur "Bildung des Lesers" enthält. Der Roman setzt sich mit der zeitgenössischen Trivialisierung der Bildungsidee kritisch auseinander. Murr meint, ein funktionierendes, gebrauchsfertiges Rezept "wie man sich zum großen Kater bildet" liefern zu können.

Motive und klassische Elemente des Bildungsromans werden parodiert: Murr erlebt eine "lehrreiche" Jugendfreundschaft (zum Pudel Ponto), eine "persönlichkeitsformende" Liebe (zur Katze Miesmies), versucht sich in Saufgelagen und Ehrenduellen als "tüchtiger Katzbursch" und in der "höhern Kultur und Welt" (die der Hunde) als feiner Gesellschafter, bildet sich jedoch schließlich autodidaktisch zum homme de lettres aus. Hoffmann nutzt dies zu zahlreichen Seitenhieben auf verschiedene kulturelle Strömungen und literarische Formen der vergangenen Jahre.

Zum anderen enthält der Text Bruchstücke eines fitkiven bereits gedruckten Buches über das Leben des Kapellmeisters Johannes Kreisler. Dem Vorwort kann der Leser entnehmen, dass der ungeschickte Kater Murr dieses Buch zerstückelte, dessen Blätter als Unterlage oder Löschpapier verwendete und sie dann auch noch im Manuskript beließ. Der "Herausgeber" (E.T.A. Hoffmann selbst) gibt sich als unachtsam, denn der Setzer druckte auch diese Textpassagen mit ab. In diesen "beigebundenen Fragmenten" enthüllt sich das Schicksal des Musikers als eine gesellschaftliche Rebellion. ... Read more

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On Christmas Eve, Uncle Drosselmeier brings a host of presents for the Stahlbaum children. To little Marie he gives the most unusual gift: an elegant wooden man with nutcracker jaws. Drosselmeier places Marie’s hand on the Nutcrackers’s lips. And to her amazement, his warm rosy mouth responds to her touch!

You don’t have to wait for Christmas to enjoy The Nutcracker. This beloved tale is a favorite around the world among children from ages 3 to 100. Your children will never grow tired of hearing you read it. And young readers will come back to it again and again.

And here’s a bonus. This beautifully decorated version includes a Christmas present for kids and parents alike: a CD of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker is ingeniously wrapped in the book cover. This colorful and enchanting classic belongs in every collection. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Hoffmann, Undervauled
After too many years, I have once again come back to the glories of E T A Hoffmann. You are at once plunged into a world of beauty and fantasy, by a writer whose gift for storytelling never, ever, lags. Never have the worlds of the mundane and the fantastic live so close and in harmony as with Hoffmann. A wonderful translation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Nutcracker
"The Nutcracker was a great book. E.T.A. Hoffman had the right idea in mind when he wrote this short story. The plot was exciting. Marie and the Nutcrarker were the main charecters." ... Read more

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"A classic, new and complete. One of the ten best illustrated children's books of the year."
-- New York Times Book Review

The tale of Nutcracker, written by E.T.A. Hoffmann in 1816, has fascinated and inspired artists, composers, and audiences for almost two hundred years. It has retained its freshness because it appeals to the sense of wonder we all share.

Maurice Sendak designed brilliant sets and costumes for the Pacific Northwest Ballet's Christmas production of Nutcracker and created even more magnificent pictures especially for this book. He joined with the eminent translator Ralph Manheim to produce this illustrated edition of Hoffmann's wonderful tale, destined to become a classic for all ages.

The world of Nutcracker is a world of pleasures. Maurice Sendak's art illuminates the delights of Hoffmann's story in this rich and tantalizing treasure. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Magical Performance of the Story
Chistopher Plummer's performance of E.T.A. Hoffman's story "

The Nutcrakcer and the Mouse King" is pure magic. He creates all

the voices for the characters and also narrates the story too.

Tchaikovsky's music is heard in the background done by Michael

Tilson Thomas and the Philharmonia Orchestra of London, in a

very good perfomance of excerpts from the ballet. Mr Plummers

reading is warm, involving, witty, and never boring. It would be

nice if this audio book were re-issued and released on CD, or

perhaps Audible.com could stock it on their web site.

The Translation by Ralph Manheim is quite good and easy on the

ear. The book version with illistrations by Maurice Sendak is

a classic and a must for every bookshelf. This audio book is a

must for everyones library too. ... Read more