Translation:The Life and Opinions of the Tomcat Murr/Preface by the Author

by E. T. A. Hoffmann

Preface by the Author

Shy - with a trembling heart, I hand over to the world some pages of life, of suffering, of hope, of longing, in sweet hours of leisure, of poetic inspiration streamed from my innermost being.

Will, could I stand before the strict tribunal of criticism? But it is you, your sentient soul, your pure, unadultered mind, your faithful heart, yes, it is you for whom I wrote, and a single tear in your eye is a beautiful comfort to me; will heal the wound of that cold censure with which the reviewer hit me!

Berlin, May (18--)

Murr
(Étudiant en belles lettres)