He graduated from the University of Königsberg, where he studied law.

After a short practice in the court of the city of Glogau (Glogow), Hoffmann in Berlin successfully passed the exam for the rank of assessor and was appointed to Poznan.

In 1802, after a scandal caused by his caricature of a representative of the upper class, Hoffmann was transferred to the Polish town of Plock, which in 1793 went to Prussia.

In 1804, Hoffmann moved to Warsaw, where he devoted all his leisure time to music; several of his musical and stage works were staged in the theater. Through the efforts of Hoffmann, a philharmonic society and a symphony orchestra were organized.

In 1808-1813 he served as conductor at the theater in Bamberg (Bavaria). During the same period, he earned extra money by teaching singing lessons to the daughters of the local nobility. Here he wrote the operas "Aurora" and "Duettini", which he dedicated to his student Julia Mark. In addition to operas, Hoffmann was the author of symphonies, choirs, and chamber works.

His first articles were published on the pages of the General Musical Newspaper, of which he had been an employee since 1809. Hoffmann imagined music as a special world, capable of revealing to a person the meaning of his feelings and passions, as well as comprehending the nature of everything mysterious and inexpressible. A clear expression of Hoffmann's musical and aesthetic views were his short stories "Cavalier Gluck" (1809), "The Musical Sufferings of Johann Kreisler, Kapellmeister" (1810), "Don Juan" (1813), and the dialogue "Poet and Composer" (1813). Hoffmann's stories were later collected in the collection Fantasies in the Spirit of Callot (1814-1815).

In 1816, Hoffmann returned to public service as an adviser to the Berlin Court of Appeal, where he served until the end of his life.

In 1816, Hoffmann's most famous opera, Ondine, was staged, but a fire that destroyed all the scenery put an end to its great success.

After that, in addition to his service, he devoted himself to literary work. The collection "The Serapion Brothers" (1819-1821) and the novel "The Worldly Views of the Cat Murr" (1820-1822) earned Hoffmann worldwide fame. The fairy tale "The Golden Pot" (1814), the novel "The Devil's Elixir" (1815-1816), and the story in the spirit of the fairy tale "Little Tsakhes, nicknamed Zinnober" (1819) became famous.

Hoffmann's novel The Lord of the Fleas (1822) led to conflict with the Prussian government; incriminating parts of the novel were removed and published only in 1906.

Since 1818, the writer developed a spinal cord disease, which over the course of several years led to paralysis.

On June 25, 1822, Hoffmann died. He was buried in the third cemetery of the Church of John of Jerusalem.

Hoffmann's works influenced German composers Carl Maria von Weber, Robert Schumann, and Richard Wagner. Hoffmann's poetic images were embodied in the works of composers Schumann ("Kreisleriana"), Wagner ("The Flying Dutchman"), Tchaikovsky ("The Nutcracker"), Adolphe Adam ("Giselle"), Leo Delibes ("Coppelia"), Ferruccio Busoni (" The Choice of the Bride"), Paul Hindemith ("Cardillac") and others. The plots for the operas were the works of Hoffmann "Master Martin and His Apprentices", "Little Zaches, nicknamed Zinnober", "Princess Brambilla" and others. Hoffmann is the hero of the operas of Jacques Offenbach "Tales of Hoffmann".

Hoffmann was married to the daughter of a Poznan clerk, Michalina Rohrer. Their only daughter Cecilia died at the age of two.

In the German city of Bamberg, in the house where Hoffmann and his wife lived on the second floor, a museum of the writer has been opened. In Bamberg there is a monument to the writer holding the cat Murr in his arms.

The material was prepared based on information from open sources

Great Soviet Encyclopedia: Hoffmann Ernst Theodor Amadeus (24.1.1776, Königsberg, - 25.6.1822, Berlin), German writer, composer, music critic, conductor, decorative artist. The son of an official. He studied legal sciences at the University of Königsberg. In Berlin from 1816 he was in the civil service as an adviser to justice. G.'s short stories “Cavalier Gluck” (1809), “The Musical Sufferings of Johann Kreisler, Kapellmeister” (1810), “Don Juan” (1813) were later included in the collection “Fantasies in the Spirit of Callot” (vols. 1-4, 1814-15 ). In the story “The Golden Pot” (1814), the world is presented as if in two planes: real and fantastic. In the novel “The Devil's Elixir” (1815-16), reality appears as an element of dark, supernatural forces. The Amazing Sufferings of a Theater Director (1819) depicts theatrical morals. His symbolic-fantastic tale “Little Tsakhes, nicknamed Zinnober” (1819) is brightly satirical. In “Night Stories” (parts 1-2, 1817), in the collection “Serapion’s Brothers” (vols. 1-4, 1819-21, Russian translation 1836), in “Last Stories” (ed. 1825) G ., sometimes in a satirical, sometimes in a tragic sense, depicts the conflicts of life, romantically interpreting them as the eternal struggle of light and dark forces. The unfinished novel “The Everyday Views of Murr the Cat” (1820-22) is a satire on German philistinism and feudal-absolutist orders. The novel The Lord of the Fleas (1822) contains bold attacks against the police regime in Prussia.
A clear expression of G.'s aesthetic views are his short stories “Cavalier Gluck”, “Don Juan”, the dialogue “Poet and Composer” (1813), and the cycle “Kreisleriana” (1814). In the short stories, as well as in “Fragments of the biography of Johannes Kreisler”, introduced into the novel “The Everyday Views of Murr the Cat,” G. created a tragic image of the inspired musician Kreisler, rebelling against philistinism and doomed to suffering.
Acquaintance with G. in Russia began in the 20s. 19th century V.G. Belinsky, arguing that G.’s fantasy is opposed to “...vulgar rational clarity and certainty...”, at the same time condemned G. for being divorced from “... living and complete reality” (Poln. sobr. soch., vol.4, 1954, p.98).
G. studied music from his uncle, then from the organist Chr. Podbelsky (1740-1792), later took composition lessons from I.F. Reichardt. G. organized a philharmonic society and a symphony orchestra in Warsaw, where he served as state councilor (1804-07). In 1807-13 he worked as a conductor, composer and decorator in theaters in Berlin, Bamberg, Leipzig and Dresden. He published many of his articles on music in the Allgemeine Musikalische Zeitung, Leipzig.
One of the founders of romantic musical aesthetics and criticism, G. already at an early stage of the development of romanticism in music formulated its essential tendencies and showed the tragic position of the romantic musician in society. He imagined music as a special world (“an unknown kingdom”), capable of revealing to a person the meaning of his feelings and passions, the nature of the mysterious and inexpressible. G. wrote about the essence of music, about musical compositions, composers, and performers.
G.'s works influenced K.M. Weber, R. Schumann, R. Wagner. G.'s poetic images were embodied in the works of R. Schumann ("Kreislerian"), R. Wagner ("The Flying Dutchman"), P.I. Tchaikovsky (“The Nutcracker”), A.Sh. Adana (“Giselle”), L. Delibes (“Coppelia”), F. Busoni (“The Bride’s Choice”), P. Hindemith (“Cardillac”) and others. The plots for the operas were the works of G. - “Master Martin and his apprentice", "Little Tsakhes nicknamed Zinnober", "Princess Brambilla" and others. G. is the hero of the operas by J. Offenbach (The Tales of Hoffmann, 1881) and G. Lacchetti (Hoffmann, 1912).
G. - author of the first German. the romantic opera “Ondine” (Op. 1813), the opera “Aurora” (Op. 1812), symphonies, choirs, chamber works.

Hoffmann Ernst Theodor Amadeus(1776-1822) - German writer, composer and artist of the romantic movement, who became famous for his fairy tales that combine mysticism with reality and reflect the grotesque and tragic sides of human nature. The most famous fairy tales of Hoffmann:, and many other fairy tales for children.

Biography of Hoffmann by Ernst Theodor Amadeus

Hoffmann Ernst Theodor Amadeus(1776-1822) - - German writer, composer and artist of the romantic movement, who became famous for his stories that combine mysticism with reality and reflect the grotesque and tragic sides of human nature.

One of the brightest talents of the 19th century, a romantic of the second stage, who influenced writers of subsequent literary eras up to the present day

The future writer was born on January 24, 1776 in Königsberg in the family of a lawyer, studied law and worked in various institutions, but did not make a career: the world of officials and activities related to writing papers could not attract an intelligent, ironic and widely gifted person.

The beginning of Hoffmann's independent life coincided with the Napoleonic wars and the occupation of Germany. While working in Warsaw, he witnessed its capture by the French. Their own material instability was superimposed on the tragedy of the entire state, which gave rise to duality and a tragically ironic perception of the world.

Discord with his wife and love for his student, devoid of hope for happiness, who was 20 years younger than him - a married man - increased the feeling of alienation in the world of philistines. His feeling for Julia Mark, that was the name of the girl he loved, formed the basis for the most sublime female images of his works.

Hoffman's circle of acquaintances included the romantic writers Fouquet, Chamisso, Brentano, and the famous actor L. Devrient. Hoffmann owns several operas and ballets, the most significant of which are Ondine, written on the plot of Ondine by Fouquet, and the musical accompaniment to the grotesque Merry Musicians by Brentano.

The beginning of Hoffmann's literary activity dates back to 1808-1813. - the period of his life in Bamberg, where he was a bandmaster at the local theater and gave music lessons. The first short story-fairy tale “Cavalier Gluck” is dedicated to the personality of the composer he especially revered; the name of the artist is included in the title of the first collection - “Fantasies in the Manner of Callot” (1814-1815).

Among Hoffmann’s most famous works are the short story “The Golden Pot”, the fairy tale “Little Tsakhes, nicknamed Zinnober”, the collections “Night Stories”, “Serapion’s Brothers”, the novels “The Worldly Views of Murr the Cat”, “The Devil’s Elixir”.

HOFFMANN, ERNST THEODOR AMADEUS(Hoffman, Ernst Theodor Amadeus) (1776–1822), German writer, composer and artist, whose fantasy stories and novels embodied the spirit of German romanticism. Ernst Theodor Wilhelm Hoffmann was born on January 24, 1776 in Königsberg (East Prussia). Already at an early age he discovered his talents as a musician and draftsman. He studied law at the University of Königsberg, then served as a judicial officer in Germany and Poland for twelve years. In 1808, his love of music prompted Hoffmann to take the post of theater conductor in Bamberg; six years later he conducted orchestras in Dresden and Leipzig. In 1816 he returned to public service as an adviser to the Berlin Court of Appeal, where he served until his death on July 24, 1822.

Hoffmann took up literature late. The most significant collections of stories Fantasies in the manner of Callot (Fantasiestücke in Callots Manier, 1814–1815), Night stories in the style of Callot (Nachtstücke in Callots Manier, 2 vol., 1816–1817) and Serapion brothers (Die Serapionsbrüder, 4 vol., 1819–1821); dialogue about the problems of theater business The extraordinary suffering of one theater director (Seltsame Leiden eines Theaterdirectors, 1818); story in the spirit of a fairy tale Little Tsakhes, nicknamed Zinnober (Klein Zaches, genannt Zinnober, 1819); and two novels - Devil's Elixir (Die Elexiere des Teufels, 1816), a brilliant study of the problem of twinning, and Everyday views of the cat Murr (Lebensansichten des Kater Murr, 1819–1821), partly autobiographical work, full of wit and wisdom. Among the most famous stories of Hoffmann, included in the mentioned collections, is the fairy tale golden pot (Die Goldene Topf), gothic story Majorate (Das Mayorat), a realistic psychological story about a jeweler who is unable to part with his creations, Mademoiselle de Scudery (Das Fraulein von Scudéry) and a series of musical short stories, in which the spirit of some musical works and the images of composers are extremely successfully recreated.

Brilliant imagination combined with a strict and transparent style provided Hoffmann with a special place in German literature. The action of his works almost never took place in distant lands - as a rule, he placed his incredible heroes in everyday settings. Hoffmann had a strong influence on E. Poe and some French writers; Several of his stories served as the basis for the libretto of the famous opera - Hoffmann's fairy tale(1870) J. Offenbach.

All of Hoffmann's works testify to his talents as a musician and artist. He illustrated many of his creations himself. Of Hoffmann's musical works, the most famous was the opera Undine (Undine), first staged in 1816; Among his compositions are chamber music, mass, and symphony. As a music critic, he showed in his articles such an understanding of the music of L. Beethoven, which few of his contemporaries could boast of. Hoffmann was so deeply revered

Biography

Hoffmann was born into the family of the Prussian royal lawyer Christoph Ludwig Hoffmann (1736-1797), but when the boy was three years old, his parents separated, and he was brought up in the house of his maternal grandmother under the influence of his uncle, a lawyer, an intelligent and talented man, inclined to fantasy and mysticism. Hoffmann showed early talent for music and drawing. But, not without the influence of his uncle, Hoffmann chose the path of jurisprudence, from which he tried to escape throughout his subsequent life and make a living through the arts.

Hoffmann's hero tries to break out of the shackles of the world around him through irony, but, realizing the powerlessness of romantic opposition to real life, the writer himself laughs at his hero. Romantic irony in Hoffmann changes its direction; unlike the Jenes, it never creates the illusion of absolute freedom. Hoffmann focuses close attention on the personality of the artist, believing that he is most free from selfish motives and petty concerns.

Works

• Collection “Fantasies in the manner of Callot” (German. Fantasiestücke in Callot's Manier), contains
  • Essay on “Jacques Callot” (German: Jaques Callot)
  • Novella "Cavalier Gluck" (German: Ritter Gluck)
  • "Chrysleriana" (I) (German: Kreisleriana)
  • Novella “Don Juan” (German: Don Juan)
  • “News about the further fate of the Berganz dog” (German. Nachricht von den neuesten Schicksalen des Hundes Berganza)
  • "Magnetizer" (German: Der Magnetiseur)
  • The story “The Golden Pot” (German: Der goldene Topf)
  • "Adventure on New Year's Eve" (German) Die Abenteuer der Silvesternacht)
  • "Kreisleriana" (II) (German: Kreisleriana)
• "Princess Blandina" (1814) (German: Prinzessin Blandina)
• Novel "Elixirs of Satan" (German) Die Elixiere des Teufels)
• Fairy tale "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King" (German: Nußknacker und Mausekönig)
• The collection "Night Studies" (German: Nachtstücke), contains
  • "The Sandman" (German: Der Sandmann)
  • "The Vow" (German: Das Gelübde)
  • "Ignaz Denner" (German: Ignaz Denner)
  • "Jesuit Church" (German: Die Jesuiterkirche in G.)
  • "Majorat" (German: Das Majorat)
  • "The Empty House" (German: Das öde Haus)
  • "Sanctus" (German: Das Sanctus)
  • "Heart of Stone" (German: Das steinerne Herz)
• Novella “The Extraordinary Sufferings of a Theater Director” (German) Seltsame Leiden eines Theater-Directors)
• The story “Little Zaches, nicknamed Zinnober” (German. Klein Zaches, genannt Zinnober)
• "Gambler's Happiness" (German: Spielerglück )
• The collection "The Serapion Brothers" (German: Die Serapionsbrüder), contains
  • "Falun Mines" ((German: Die Bergwerke zu Falun)
  • “Doge and Dogaresse” ((German: Doge und Dogaresse)
  • "Master Martin-Bochar and his apprentices" (German) Meister Martin der Küfner und seine Gesellen)
  • Novella "Mademoiselle de Scudéry" (German: Das Fräulein von Scudéry)
• "Princess Brambilla" (1820) (German: Prinzessin Brambilla)
• The novel “The Worldly Views of Murr the Cat” (German) Lebensansichten des Katers Murr)
• "Errors" (German: Die Irrungen)
• "The Secrets" (German: Die Geheimnisse)
• "Doubles" (German: Die Doppeltgänger)
• Novel "Lord of the Fleas" (German: Meister Floh)
• Novella "Corner Window" (German: Des Vetters Eckfenster)
• "The Sinister Guest" (German: Der unheimliche Gast)

• Opera "Ondine" ().

Bibliography

• Theodor Hoffman. Collected Works in eight volumes. - St. Petersburg: “Printing house of the Panteleev brothers”, 1896 - 1899.
• E. T. A. Hoffman. Musical novellas. - Moscow: “World Literature”, 1922.
• E. T. A. Hoffman. Collected works in seven volumes. - Moscow: “Publishing Partnership “Nedra””, 1929.(under the general editorship of P.S. Kogan. With a portrait of the author. Translation from German, edited by Z.A. Vershinina)
• Hoffman. Selected works in three volumes.. - Moscow.: “State Publishing House of Fiction”, 1962.
• THIS. Hoffman. Kreisleriana. Everyday views of the cat Murra. Diaries.. - Moscow.: “Science”, 1972.
• Hoffman. Collected works in six volumes.. - Moscow.: “Fiction”, 1991-2000.
• THIS. Hoffman. Elixirs of Satan.. - Moscow.: “Republic”, 1992. - ISBN 5-250-02103-4
• THIS. Hoffman. Little Tsakhes, nicknamed Zinnober. - Moscow: “Rainbow”, 2002 - ISBN 5-05-005439-7

Ballets based on the works of E. T. A. Hoffmann

• Ballet by P. I. Tchaikovsky “The Nutcracker” (first production in 1892).
• Coppelia (Coppelia, or Beauty with Blue Eyes, French Coppélia) is a comic ballet by French composer Léo Delibes. The libretto was written based on the short story by E. Hoffmann “The Sandman” by Charles Nuitter and the choreographer of the play A. Saint-Leon).
• Ballet by S. M. Slonimsky “The Magic Nut” (first production in 2005).

Film adaptations

• Nut Krakatuk, film by Leonid Kvinikhidze
• The Nutcracker and the Mouse King (cartoon), 1999
• The Nutcracker and the Rat King (3D film), 2010

In astronomy

The asteroid (640) Brambilla is named after the heroine of Hoffmann's work “Princess Brambilla”. (English) Russian , opened in 1907.

• Hoffmann in his name Ernest Theodor Wilhelm changed the last part to Amadeus in honor of his favorite composer Mozart.
• Hoffman is one of the writers who influenced the work of E. A. Poe, H. F. Lovecraft, as well as M. M. Shemyakin. He influenced the work of the Russian rock musician, leader of the groups Agatha Christie and Gleb Samoiloff & the Matrixx Gleb Samoilov.

Notes

Literature

• Berkovsky N. Ya. Preface.//Hoffman E. T. A. Novels and stories. L., 1936.
• Berkovsky N. Ya. Romanticism in Germany. L., 1973.
• Botnikova A. B. E. T. A. Hoffman and Russian literature. Voronezh, 1977.
• Vetchinov K. M. The adventures of Hoffmann - police investigator, state adviser, composer, artist and writer. Pushchino, 2009.
• Karelsky A. V. Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffman // E. T. A. Hoffman. Collection Works: In 6 volumes. T. 1. M.: Khud. literature, 1991.
• Mirimsky I. V. Hoffman // History of German literature. T. 3. M.: Nauka, 1966.
• Turaev S.V. Goffman // History of World Literature. T. 6. M.: Nauka, 1989.
• Hoffmann's Russian Circle (compiled by N. I. Lopatina with the participation of D. V. Fomin, executive editor Yu. G. Fridshtein). - M.: Book Center of the VGBIL named after M.I. Rudomino, 2009-672 p.: ill.
• The artistic world of E. T. A. Hoffmann. M., 1982.
• E. T. A. Hoffman. Life and art. Letters, statements, documents / Trans. with him. Composition K. Gyuntzel.. - M.: Raduga, 1987. - 464 p.