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Ernst Theodor Amadeus HoffmannOut of admiration for Amadeus Mozart, he changed his name from "Wilhelm" to "Amadeus" in 1805. He published notes on music under the name Johannes Kreisler.
Date of Birth: 24.01.1776
Country:  Germany |
Content:
- Early Life and Influences
- Legal Career and Artistic Aspirations
- Transition to Writing
- Literary Style and Themes
- Recognition and Legacy
- Death and Impact
Early Life and Influences
Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann was born on January 24, 1776, in Königsberg, Prussia. His father, Christoph Ludwig Hoffmann, was a lawyer, and his mother, Luise Albertina Dörffer, came from a musical family.
When Hoffmann was three years old, his parents separated, and he was raised by his maternal grandmother and his uncle, Otto Wilhelm Dörffer. Dörffer was a brilliant lawyer with a deep interest in the fantastic and mystical. From a young age, Hoffmann displayed remarkable talent for music and drawing, but under his uncle's influence, he pursued a career in law.
Legal Career and Artistic Aspirations
In 1800, Hoffmann graduated with honors from the University of Königsberg and entered the Prussian civil service. Throughout his legal career, he continued to pursue his passions for music and art, but his attempts to earn a living through them often resulted in poverty.
Transition to Writing
After receiving a small inheritance in 1813, Hoffmann's financial situation improved. He briefly served as a musical director in Dresden, but lost the position in 1815 and was forced to return to his legal work. However, his new post in Berlin provided him with a stable income and ample time for his creative endeavors.
Literary Style and Themes
Hoffmann's unique writing style combined elements of the fantastic, the real, and the supernatural. His stories often explored the blurring of boundaries between these worlds and the complex nature of human existence. One of his most famous works, "The Golden Pot," illustrates this ambiguity by juxtaposing the mundane world of student Anselm with the magical realm of Archimedes Lindhorst.
Recognition and Legacy
Despite initial criticism in Germany, Hoffmann gained popularity in other countries, particularly in Russia. Russian critic Vissarion Belinsky hailed him as "one of the greatest German poets," and Fyodor Dostoevsky was a devoted reader. Hoffmann's life and work have been immortalized in Jacques Offenbach's opera "The Tales of Hoffmann" and Mykola Bazhan's poem "Hoffmann's Night."
Death and Impact
Hoffmann's excessive lifestyle took its toll on his health. He died on June 25, 1822, in Berlin, at the age of 46. His death marked the end of a literary career that had significantly influenced the development of the Romantic movement and continues to resonate with readers today.
