2008-01-29 Closer than most...

I came to Hoffman, having seen him referenced so many times in other classics. Much like the Velvet Underground in the world of music, he's a writer's writer, but I'm sure the rest of us can enjoy this work too. I was lured in by the mythology of the author, and sought him out like a rare treasure.

All these stories are superb - Mademoiselle de Scudery nudging shoulders with the great Gothic murder mysteries; The Entail disturbingly creepy and claustrophobic; Doge and Dogaressa a miniature Venetian epic - but for me, The Sandman stands out as one of my favourite ever tales - a dark black, dynamically-told nightmare about a hideous bogeyman that often verges on the comic and surreal. Unique.

Keep E.T.A. alive!