The Sandman: And Other Weird Tales

This collection of three uncanny tales highlights the best of a 19th-century German author who is seen by many as the father of modern sci-fi and fantasy.In 'The Sandman', young Nathanael grows up terrified of a legendary figure who will steal his eyes if he's caught out of bed at night - but it's only when Nathanael has grown to adulthood, seemingly settled and happy, that the full, terrifying truth unfolds.A living doll, a series of doppelgangers, and the seeds of madness combine in this classic story of self-destruction. 'The Cremona Violin' also deals with obsession and thwarted desire, this time between an overbearing father and a musically talented daughter who may die of heart failure if she unleashes the full power of her extraordinary voice.Suppressed passion and possessive control prove a fatal mix in this powerful and claustrophobic story. 'The Golden Pot', meanwhile, is a novella-length tale which Hoffmann believed was his masterpiece.Disturbing, exciting and dream-like, it