Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Hoffmann, Ernst Theodor Wilhelm

HOFFMANN, ERNST THEODOR WILHELM, a German novelist and miscellaneous writer; born in Königsberg, in 1776. He studied law, and held various judicial appointments in Poland, till his legal career was interrupted by the invasion of Warsaw by the French in 1816, in the government of which city he had been appointed counsellor. He devoted his leisure time to the study of music and romance writing. Among his works are “Fantasy Pieces,” “The Devil's Elixir,” “The Entail,” “The Adversary,” etc., all displaying a singularly wild and romantic imagination. He died in 18822.