Customer Reviews:
| Showing reviews 1-5 of 7 | | NEXT » |
 Haunting Gothic Tour-de-Force October 10, 2008
I rarely read novels. I almost never re-read novels. I've read "The Devil's Elixirs" three times so far, in the older translation published by John Calder. I'm delighted that a new version has finally appeared after 45 years. I see it's attracted mixed comments: but if it's even barely readable, you should read this book.
It has a lot in common with Matthew Lewis's bestseller "The Monk," but while "The Monk" is a pleasingly lurid shocker, Hoffmann's tale, though equally fast-moving, thrilling and incident-packed, adds a new dimension of poetry, mystery and disquiet. A product of the most feverish and Gothic German Romanticism, it is in some ways quaintly dated: but its sense of hallucination and unfathomable bewilderment is timeless.
The staggeringly intricate plot turns on Hoffmann's obsessive theme of Doubles: the encounter with the indistinguishable other-self that is like a collision of planets, provoking black panic and the loss of identity in a boundless void. Reading this book is like meeting a stranger who describes in detail a dream you had the night before.
This is Hoffmann's greatest work and one of my favourite books. It won't be to everyone's taste, but if my description sounds intriguing, give it a try.
 Great story, so-so translation December 30, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
It's great that this novel (only one of two by Hoffmann) is again available to readers of English. The story -- the adventures of an utterly bonkers, casually homicidal monk with a mysterious and somewhat sinister pedigree -- itself is great macabre fun with a hint of satire.
Unfortunately, the translation is not particularly good. At times the prose comes across as clunky and ill-thought-out. In fact, it often reads as if the translator simply typed each sentence into a translation program, e.g. "Karl der Grosse" is translated at one point as "Karl of Grossen" rather than the more accurate name of "Charlemagne."
The Best Translation of Hoffmann in English September 17, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
It's a shame that only a handful of Hoffmann's work is available in English, and much of what we do have consists of 19th century renderings mired in the mannered, stilted phrasings and irritatingly turgid sentence structure which, in Victorian times proved that an author was "good." Ian Sumter has produced the best book-length edition of Hoffmann in English. His prose is clear, concise, and never muddled, so that the author's oftentimes ambiguous and deceptive scenarios are not confusing, as other translators have made them.
The Devil's Elixirs is some of Hoffmann's best writing. It is a swift-moving , engaging story that boasts many complex psychological themes, and, of course, countless overlapping motifs, double identities, and confusions between reality and the interpretation of reality. It is at once witty and nightmarishly frightening, and easily overshadows the tame and shapeless Tomcat Muir in both style and substance.
A great novel that has been out of print in English for nearly a century. Grab it while it's available.
The Monk with a happier ending September 16, 2007
I give this only three stars because as far as Hoffmann goes The Golden Pot and Master Flea were better and tighter novels, in my opinion. However, The Devil's Elixirs makes for a fascinating read.
 Highly entertaining gothic / mystery fiction July 19, 2007
I had been a great fan of Hoffmann for many years but had never found this book in English - seems to have been out of print for ages.
The story has a real air of mystery and suspense as you have to try and work out what is happening to Medardus and who is committing the crimes.
There are some good comedy moments too - particularly with an insane hairdresser and a drunken Irishman!
Well worth the wait!
|
