What do you think?
Rate this book
Coleção Clube do Crime #11
Das Fräulein von Scuderi. Mit Illustrationen von Hugo Steiner-Prag und einem Nachwort von Jochen Schmidt
One of the earliest examples of the classic murder mystery, Hoffman’s remarkable book has been the inspiration for a host of thriller and crime writers. Parisian goldsmith Monsieur Cardillac is a genius at his craft. Greatly admired throughout Paris, he is renowned for his works of exquisite and matchless beauty. So much so, that it seems the desire to possess his creations is enough to lead to murder. Composer, writer, and painter E.T.A. Hoffmann is an important figure in the German Romantic movement; he is perhaps best known as the author of The Nutcracker.
121 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1819
66 people are currently reading
1351 people want to read
About the author
E.T.A. Hoffmann
2,172 books877 followersErnst Theodor Wilhelm Hoffmann, better known by his pen name E. T. A. Hoffmann (Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann), was a German Romantic author of fantasy and horror, a jurist, composer, music critic, draftsman and caricaturist. His stories form the basis of Jacques Offenbach's famous opera The Tales of Hoffmann, in which Hoffman appears (heavily fictionalized) as the hero. He is also the author of the novella The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, on which the famous ballet The Nutcracker is based. The ballet Coppélia is based on two other stories that Hoffmann wrote, while Schumann's Kreisleriana is based on Hoffmann's character Johannes Kreisler.
Hoffmann's stories were very influential during the 19th century, and he is one of the major authors of the Romantic movement.
Hoffmann's stories were very influential during the 19th century, and he is one of the major authors of the Romantic movement.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 233 reviews
May 12, 2021
Maniacal murders, mysterious strangers, costly jewelry, clandestine love… Mademoiselle de Scuderi, even being grotesquely romantic, is the earliest prefiguration of mystery noir of the distant twentieth century.
Enigmatic circumstances and unpredictable events inadvertently turn Magdaleine Scuderi into what now is known as private eye…
A tortuous plot, stories within stories, unexpected turns in narration, pathological motivation of the villain’s behavior and the rich language of the story keep the tale afloat and make it intriguing even so late in the day.
Secrets and mysteries remain an irresistible lure for human mind ever since the ancient times.
Magdaleine Scuderi, so famous for her charming poetical and other writings, lived in a small mansion in the Rue St. Honoré, by favour of Louis the 14th and Madame Maintenon.
Late one night – about midnight – in the autumn of the year 1680, there came a knocking at the door of this house, so loud and violent that it shook the very ground. Baptiste, who filled the offices of cook, butler, and doorkeeper in the lady’s modest establishment, had gone, by her leave, to the country to his sister’s wedding, so that La Martinière, the femme de chambre, was the only person still awake in the house. She heard this knocking, which went on without ceasing almost, and she remembered that, as Baptiste was away, she and her mistress were alone and unprotected. She thought of the housebreakings, robberies, and murders which were so frequent in Paris at that time, and felt convinced that some of the numerous bands of malefactors, knowing the defenceless state of the house that night, were raising this alarum at the door, and would commit some outrage if it was opened; so she remained in her room, trembling and terrified, anathematizing Baptiste, and his sister’s marriage into the bargain.
Enigmatic circumstances and unpredictable events inadvertently turn Magdaleine Scuderi into what now is known as private eye…
A tortuous plot, stories within stories, unexpected turns in narration, pathological motivation of the villain’s behavior and the rich language of the story keep the tale afloat and make it intriguing even so late in the day.
Secrets and mysteries remain an irresistible lure for human mind ever since the ancient times.
April 21, 2023
Ein hochrasanter Kriminalfall, spannend, gefühlvoll und wendungsreich.
Die Sprache überraschend stark, ein moderner Mix aus Gefühl, Tempo und Beschreibung. Eigentlich ein klares 5-Sterne-Buch, müsste man sich nicht durch viele eher unwichtige Personen hindurchkämpfen, die zwar manchmal starr in Ohnmacht fallen oder Thränen vergeußen, zu oft aber nur Funktionsträger sind. Seltsam, aber mittlerweile kann ich es besser verstehen und würdigen, dass sich die Figuren zur Bekräftigung ihrer Anliegen auf die Knie schmeißen und schluchzen.
Schön finde ich auch diese offenen Bruchstellen, an denen das Gruselige durch den Text schlüpft und auf den Leser zukriecht: "Irgendein Fremder", der einen wichtigen Rat gibt, "entstellte Gesichter" der gehetzten Menschen, der zerrissene Schmied, Scuderi, die zunächst Oliviers Unschuld und gleich darauf seine Schuld konstatiert. Was mich früher beim Lesen befremdete, gefällt mir nun. Das Unsichere und Unaufgelöste. Schön.
Die Sprache überraschend stark, ein moderner Mix aus Gefühl, Tempo und Beschreibung. Eigentlich ein klares 5-Sterne-Buch, müsste man sich nicht durch viele eher unwichtige Personen hindurchkämpfen, die zwar manchmal starr in Ohnmacht fallen oder Thränen vergeußen, zu oft aber nur Funktionsträger sind. Seltsam, aber mittlerweile kann ich es besser verstehen und würdigen, dass sich die Figuren zur Bekräftigung ihrer Anliegen auf die Knie schmeißen und schluchzen.
Schön finde ich auch diese offenen Bruchstellen, an denen das Gruselige durch den Text schlüpft und auf den Leser zukriecht: "Irgendein Fremder", der einen wichtigen Rat gibt, "entstellte Gesichter" der gehetzten Menschen, der zerrissene Schmied, Scuderi, die zunächst Oliviers Unschuld und gleich darauf seine Schuld konstatiert. Was mich früher beim Lesen befremdete, gefällt mir nun. Das Unsichere und Unaufgelöste. Schön.
December 16, 2023
Ich habe dies auf Bitten meiner Tochter gelesen, es ist gerade Schulstoff im Deutschunterricht der 10. Klasse.
Keine Ahnung, weshalb. Mir fallen auf Anhieb zwei Dutzend Texte der deutschen Romantik ein, die relevanter für 16-Jährige im 21. Jahrhundert wären.
Irgendwie respektiere ich sehr, dass Hoffmann offenbar kein Interesse hatte, den Text nochmal zu überarbeiten. Den schwerfälligen deus ex machina nach 40 Seiten hätte er durch ein, zwei Einfügungen zu Beginn des Buches wesentlich eleganter gestalten können, aber, ging ja auch so.
Auch das Pastiche einer französischen Erzählung des 17. Jahrhunderts erledigt er mit minimalem Aufwand (zwei französischen Sinnsprüchen).
Wer erwartet, das Fräulein von Scuderi sei eine Art Miss Marple: nein, alle Erkenntnisse werden ihr zugetragen, weil sie adlig und tugendhaft ist, sie tut nichts dafür selbst, und alles, was sie erreicht, erreicht sie unter Tränen.
Keine Ahnung, weshalb. Mir fallen auf Anhieb zwei Dutzend Texte der deutschen Romantik ein, die relevanter für 16-Jährige im 21. Jahrhundert wären.
Irgendwie respektiere ich sehr, dass Hoffmann offenbar kein Interesse hatte, den Text nochmal zu überarbeiten. Den schwerfälligen deus ex machina nach 40 Seiten hätte er durch ein, zwei Einfügungen zu Beginn des Buches wesentlich eleganter gestalten können, aber, ging ja auch so.
Auch das Pastiche einer französischen Erzählung des 17. Jahrhunderts erledigt er mit minimalem Aufwand (zwei französischen Sinnsprüchen).
Wer erwartet, das Fräulein von Scuderi sei eine Art Miss Marple: nein, alle Erkenntnisse werden ihr zugetragen, weil sie adlig und tugendhaft ist, sie tut nichts dafür selbst, und alles, was sie erreicht, erreicht sie unter Tränen.
July 14, 2019
The dark romantic E. T. A. Hoffmann is somewhat of Edgar Allan Poe’s spiritual older brother. He is very likely less famous by name, but many well-known eerily discomforting (fairy) tales are his: "The Nutcracker”, “The Sandman”, “The Devil’s Elixirs” (closely linked to Lewis’ “The Monk”). The motifs of the captivating talking automaton, untraceable encounters driving one into madness, and a vague entity pulling you into its clutches are also heavily featured in his stories. Emo galore, yes, but many of his works actually do convey an old-school oppressing atmosphere.
That being said, “Mademoiselle de Scuderi” is honestly far from his most brilliant achievements. The Mademoiselle in question is an elderly poet with connections to French aristocracy and the Sun King himself, set out to unveil a series of brutal crimes committed in the streets of Paris at night. If this sounds like a period piece with large gowns, even larger wigs and a heavily powdered Miss Marple, the reason is that that is pretty much exactly what this is. It also features the obligatory young lovers with obstacles in their way, the past catching up with you to expose what was to be kept hidden, someone being not what they seem, and a resolution with an unexpected plot twist, which is exactly what you do expect in this genre.
“Mademoiselle de Scuderi” is a pleasant little novella to read late on a Sunday with your night cap, easily finished over a pint of stout. All the dots are well connected, the pacing is good and the structure keeps it all nicely together. It is a good representation of its time, genre and style. But Hoffmann does have other works, with a lot more edge to them.
That being said, “Mademoiselle de Scuderi” is honestly far from his most brilliant achievements. The Mademoiselle in question is an elderly poet with connections to French aristocracy and the Sun King himself, set out to unveil a series of brutal crimes committed in the streets of Paris at night. If this sounds like a period piece with large gowns, even larger wigs and a heavily powdered Miss Marple, the reason is that that is pretty much exactly what this is. It also features the obligatory young lovers with obstacles in their way, the past catching up with you to expose what was to be kept hidden, someone being not what they seem, and a resolution with an unexpected plot twist, which is exactly what you do expect in this genre.
“Mademoiselle de Scuderi” is a pleasant little novella to read late on a Sunday with your night cap, easily finished over a pint of stout. All the dots are well connected, the pacing is good and the structure keeps it all nicely together. It is a good representation of its time, genre and style. But Hoffmann does have other works, with a lot more edge to them.
September 15, 2020
Μια αστυνομική ιστορία που μου άρεσε. Το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο ενέπνευσε τον edgar allan poe καθώς και την agatha christie και άλλους. Υπάρχει αγωνία και σασπένς. Αραγε θα αθωωθεί ο Μπρισον? Ενα ευχαριστο ανάγνωσμα.
June 5, 2022
Sa Hofmanom je jasno – ili piše priče poput narodnih legendi, opervaženih fantazijskim i mrvicom romantičarskih elemenata, ili to isto samo dodata i jezovita atmosfera, ili pripoveda o muzičkim instrumentima i muzičkim kompozicijama ili detektivske priče. Prva dva opusa su mi najdraža. U ovoj zbirčici, njemu pripada „Majorat“. Poprilično Hofmanovski poznata jezovita atmosfera ogromne, zapuštene vile podignute na hridini sa mračnom porodičnom prošlošću i kletvom koja ne miruje. Pasusi i pasusi zdrave, neusiljene deskripcije. „Gospođica Skideri“ je detektivska priča sa malo jezovitih „onostranih“ elemenata, koji se rasplinu u stvarnosti nakon razotkrivanja. Mnogo me ta stara dama podseća na sličnu takvu u Dikensovim Velikim očekivanjima– gospođicu Havišam. Samo što je ovde reč o prevrtljivom zlataru koji ima specifičan odnos prema komadima nakita koji mu se svidi, i prema budućim vlasnicima istog. Uglavnom, kad god se Hofmanu vratio, uvek mi je osveženje, bez obzira na to što je njegova proza nastajala pre više od dva veka i uvek me ponese ta atmosfera na ivici nerealnog koju tako vešto izatka.
May 31, 2024
Mantık hataları falan var ama yazıldığı dönemi düşünürsek aslında hiç fena değil. Keşke polisiye kısmına daha çok yüklenseymiş yazar. Bu haliyle biraz "hafif" ve "kolay" nihayetleniyor. Yine de severek okudum.
December 29, 2022
Was hat es mit der Mordserie in Paris des 17. Jh. und insbesondere am Tod des Goldschmiedemeisters Cardillac auf sich. Die Scuderi wird um Hilfe gebeten .....
February 14, 2024
این کتاب اولین رمان جنایی آلمانیزبان به حساب مییاد که ۲۰۵ سال پیش منتشر شده. بله، درست شنیدین!!! با یه رمان ۲۰۰ ساله سر و کار داشتم دیشب👨🏻🦳👵🏼 🌙 داستانش هم دربارهی حوادث مربوط به قتلهای زنجیرهای مرموزیه که ساکنان پاریسِ قرن ۱۷ ام رو حسابی به وحشت انداخته بود 🔪🩸😱 این سری قتلها تاریخی بودن ولی مابقی قضایا متولد ذهن خلاق نویسندهن. حقیقتاً اصلاً فکر نمیکردم انقد از خوندنش لذت ببرم 🥳🥳🥳 چون معمولاً رمانهای امروزی رو ترجیح میدم، البته به استثنای داستایفسکی‼️ راستی، این همون نویسندهس که “فندقشکن و شاه موشان” رو هم نوشته. باید کارتونشو دیده باشین 📺 البته این کتابشو خیلی بیشتر دوست داشتم و کنجکاوم ببینم دیگه چی نوشته 🤩🤩
July 30, 2018
3.5
มีกลิ่นอายวรรณกรรมแนวรหัสคดี ของหลายๆเรื่อง รวมกันอยู่ในเล่มนี้
สิ่งนี้พอจะบอกได้ว่า เล่มนี้ของฮ้อฟฟ์มันน์
คือต้นแบบของงานเขียนแนวสืบสวนสอบสวนที่มาก่อนใครๆ
ตอนจบอาจจะไม่หวือหวาพลิกล็อคเท่ากับยุคนี้ (แอบลุ้น นิดๆ เผื่อว่าคนแต่งหลอกให้เขว)
แต่จุดเด่นคิดว่าน่าจะอยู่ที่บรรยากาศของเรื่อง ที่ให้ภาพมืดหม่น ชวนหวาดผวา และน่าสงสัยในการกระทำของตัวละครว่าใครคือคนร้ายกันแน่
เราว่าจุดนี้เล่นกับความสงสัยของผู้อ่านได้ดี เพราะพอเราอ่านในยุคนี้ เราก็เลยสงสัยไปอีกแบบได้เหมือนกัน
มีกลิ่นอายวรรณกรรมแนวรหัสคดี ของหลายๆเรื่อง รวมกันอยู่ในเล่มนี้
สิ่งนี้พอจะบอกได้ว่า เล่มนี้ของฮ้อฟฟ์มันน์
คือต้นแบบของงานเขียนแนวสืบสวนสอบสวนที่มาก่อนใครๆ
ตอนจบอาจจะไม่หวือหวาพลิกล็อคเท่ากับยุคนี้ (แอบลุ้น นิดๆ เผื่อว่าคนแต่งหลอกให้เขว)
แต่จุดเด่นคิดว่าน่าจะอยู่ที่บรรยากาศของเรื่อง ที่ให้ภาพมืดหม่น ชวนหวาดผวา และน่าสงสัยในการกระทำของตัวละครว่าใครคือคนร้ายกันแน่
เราว่าจุดนี้เล่นกับความสงสัยของผู้อ่านได้ดี เพราะพอเราอ่านในยุคนี้ เราก็เลยสงสัยไปอีกแบบได้เหมือนกัน
Read
March 21, 2017I am struggling with a rating, so I'll revisit that another time. This short (90 pages) novella by Hoffman has been seen by many as an early, pre-Poe example of the detective story. In his foreword, Gilbert Adair also notes that this is so, and he notes that Mademoiselle de Scudéri is a "genteel elderly spinster not a thousand miles away from Agatha Christie's Miss Marple." He may be right, and in that sense, this short novella is definitely worth reading by anyone at all interested in the history of the genre, and to be more specific, in the history of the female amateur detective.
for plot with zero spoilers, you can follow this link to my reading journal entry.
Despite a couple of serious niggles -- it leans a bit to the side of melodrama toward the end, and it ultimately depends a great deal on coincidence (both part of my normal reasons for not enjoying a book) -- I have to say that after all has been revealed, the story becomes much more than just a work of crime fiction. The historical aspects are fascinating -- the affair of the poisons and its psychological aftermath, the belief in agents of the supernatural and concerns that the devil and his henchmen are active agents on the streets of Paris, the creation and operations of the notorious chambre ardente all make for great reading. The personal history and the psychological motives underlying the acts of the villain of this piece are also quite interesting, and as Adair has noted in his foreword, it is vintage Hoffman. I won't explain, but I would suggest not reading anything at all about this book that gives away much more than the dustjacket cover blurb. Heck, don't even read the foreword or the introduction if coming to this book with, as Adair says, "an 'innocent' eye."
I know that a number of people didn't care too much for this book, and I can sort of understand their reasons why. However, as a step in the history of modern crime fiction, it is of great interest to me as a reader of the genre, and in that sense, it is well worth the time, and I'm very happy to have read it.
for plot with zero spoilers, you can follow this link to my reading journal entry.
Despite a couple of serious niggles -- it leans a bit to the side of melodrama toward the end, and it ultimately depends a great deal on coincidence (both part of my normal reasons for not enjoying a book) -- I have to say that after all has been revealed, the story becomes much more than just a work of crime fiction. The historical aspects are fascinating -- the affair of the poisons and its psychological aftermath, the belief in agents of the supernatural and concerns that the devil and his henchmen are active agents on the streets of Paris, the creation and operations of the notorious chambre ardente all make for great reading. The personal history and the psychological motives underlying the acts of the villain of this piece are also quite interesting, and as Adair has noted in his foreword, it is vintage Hoffman. I won't explain, but I would suggest not reading anything at all about this book that gives away much more than the dustjacket cover blurb. Heck, don't even read the foreword or the introduction if coming to this book with, as Adair says, "an 'innocent' eye."
I know that a number of people didn't care too much for this book, and I can sort of understand their reasons why. However, as a step in the history of modern crime fiction, it is of great interest to me as a reader of the genre, and in that sense, it is well worth the time, and I'm very happy to have read it.
June 11, 2019
Disponível também em língua inglesa, " Das Fräulein von Scuderi" de E.T.A. Hoffmann foi o primeiro policial alemão e, tanto quanto sei, o primeiro europeu. Muitas das personagens aqui apresentadas existiram na realidade, tendo sofrido da realidade para a ficção algumas adaptações que não serão objecto da minha opinião sob pena de apresentar "spoilers"... Mas uma delas é a senhora Scuderi, uma figura extremamente interessante (uma das coisas mais curiosas é que nunca se casou por considerar que tal colocava em causa a independência/liberdade da mulher) e culta do século XVII-XVIII.
O escritor, E.T.A. Hoffmann era jurista de profissão, sendo também compositor, pintor, cenógrafo, ... E a verdade é que parece usar a sua experiência como jurista na elaboração desta história passada em Paris do século XVII, quando as noites eram escuras e a iluminação eléctrica ainda não existia potenciando roubos e mortes em grande número. É este o "palco" da história de "Das Fräulein von Scuderi".
A narrativa é dinâmica, sem grandes pausas (nem sequer há capítulos), e a dada altura dei comigo a querer ler tudo sem parar para perceber quem é que era o assassino e se aquele que era declarado como culpado o era ou não.
Gosto de policiais (filmes), mas livros policiais não são, até à data, o meu forte... Portanto, apesar de ter gostado do que li, continuo a preferir outros géneros literários.
O escritor, E.T.A. Hoffmann era jurista de profissão, sendo também compositor, pintor, cenógrafo, ... E a verdade é que parece usar a sua experiência como jurista na elaboração desta história passada em Paris do século XVII, quando as noites eram escuras e a iluminação eléctrica ainda não existia potenciando roubos e mortes em grande número. É este o "palco" da história de "Das Fräulein von Scuderi".
A narrativa é dinâmica, sem grandes pausas (nem sequer há capítulos), e a dada altura dei comigo a querer ler tudo sem parar para perceber quem é que era o assassino e se aquele que era declarado como culpado o era ou não.
Gosto de policiais (filmes), mas livros policiais não são, até à data, o meu forte... Portanto, apesar de ter gostado do que li, continuo a preferir outros géneros literários.
February 20, 2017
Zuerst finde ich es persönlich schön, dass das Buch genau zu einer Zeit spielt, die in einem meiner absoluten Lieblingsromane angerissen wird. Das Schweigen des Lichtes von Niel Flemming, das ebenfalls in Paris spielt. Aber nun zu Das Fräulein von Scuderi.
Das Buch gefiel mir zunächst einmal sehr, weil es eine Erzählung ist, die sich zum Schluss unerwartet auflöst. Madame Scuderi, eine Schriftstellerin bemüht sich um die Aufklärung einer mysteriösen Mordserie in Paris. Die Vorfälle werden zunächst für Raubmord gehalten, werden aber auf Anraten von Madame Scuderi, die Kontakte zum französischen König pflegt, nicht weiter verfolgt. Doch schon bald sieht sie sich gezwungen den Geschehnissen auf ihren Grund zu gehen.
Ein Mörder, der letztlich enttarnt wird, weil er besonders begabt ist.
Technisch wegen des Alters des Schriftstückes natürlich ungewohnt geschrieben, aber nicht kompliziert formuliert. Ich hatte überraschend den Eindruck eines fließenden Lesevergnügens, das bei anderen Werken dieser Zeit fehlt.
Das Buch gefiel mir zunächst einmal sehr, weil es eine Erzählung ist, die sich zum Schluss unerwartet auflöst. Madame Scuderi, eine Schriftstellerin bemüht sich um die Aufklärung einer mysteriösen Mordserie in Paris. Die Vorfälle werden zunächst für Raubmord gehalten, werden aber auf Anraten von Madame Scuderi, die Kontakte zum französischen König pflegt, nicht weiter verfolgt. Doch schon bald sieht sie sich gezwungen den Geschehnissen auf ihren Grund zu gehen.
Ein Mörder, der letztlich enttarnt wird, weil er besonders begabt ist.
Technisch wegen des Alters des Schriftstückes natürlich ungewohnt geschrieben, aber nicht kompliziert formuliert. Ich hatte überraschend den Eindruck eines fließenden Lesevergnügens, das bei anderen Werken dieser Zeit fehlt.
May 5, 2020
This was so interesting! What I loved the most about was the dark atmosphere of unjustice and prejudice of the 17th century. This dark version of Paris, all the wealthy upper classes, who just want to win the attention of Louis XIV and also when something sinister happens, it will become soon a twisted story of blood and murder on the streets of Paris.
December 13, 2015
actually it wasn't that bad! the story is quite interesting and it reminds me a bit of 'the perfume' by patrick süskind!
January 8, 2016
Thank you for the torture, school.
June 8, 2023
Ladies and gentlemen taking advantage of the fact that today I have a little book time I will take advantage to write one, or several reviews. In this case it is a short story that I liked a lot (which was included in a book I bought second-hand that included an "Epistolario" by Leandro Fernández de Moratín https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5..., and apart from this two other stories of the German ETA Hoffmann such as "Martín coopero de Nuremberg" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8..., and "The Hall of King Artus" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5... (it has nothing to do with a fantasy story), and there was also "The suspicious truth" by Juan Ruiz de Alarcón, the playwright of the seventeenth century https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... , which I think was reviewed here). First of all I will write this review in five languages in @goodreads (to the three already known will be added French, and German).
I had no excessive sympathy for Hoffmann, I had read him a little thing, but I did not consider him a great writer. Back in my days of militant anti-Americanism, I thought I was the forerunner of Edgar Allan Poe https://www.goodreads.com/author/show..., and that Poe owed a lot to Hoffmann. Of course my ideas have changed, but I may not have been so wrong in my youth that Hoffmann could be the forerunner of Edgar Allan Poe. This story would be a short story whose protagonist would be Mademoiselle Scudery https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... a French poet, and writer of the time of Louis XIV. We see that we are at the end of the last great stage of Louis XIV in the 1680s (its decline will begin after the Peace of Ryswick of 1697 I recommend a video of @IohannesAustriacus and @Decíamosayer to analyze the figure of Louis XIV). It is very interesting to compare this short story "The Voice and the Sword" by Vic Echogoyen https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5..., because the vision given by ETA Hoffmann of France is very similar to that given by this novelist (not to mention that in this novel about Madame Maupin there are many common characters). France almost looks like a police state, but despite all that tight surveillance of La Regnie the head of the French police a precedent of Machault, Fouche, or Vidocq heinous crimes continue to be committed, and people have lost freedom.
In my opinion, the anti-Spanish Black Legend has been internalized so much that such sinister characters from other countries as La Regnie, or Topcliffe in England are unknown (on the other hand, Torquemada is known https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5.... Such sinister characters do not avoid Monsters like that Italian Exili, and the horrendous Marchionesses of Brinvilliers, and La Voizin (the latter involved with characters of the Court of as the Montespan lover of Louis XIV). At this moment Maria Teresa is already dead, and the King courts his third lover with whom he will marry in a morganatic way the Maintenon). Anyway, as monstrous as the crimes told in this story are (there is talk of another sinister murderer and necromancer La Croix all disciples of this Exili, who in turn was a disciple of Glazer who sought the philosopher's stone). However, the repressive measures of the men of Louis XIV, such as La Regnie, or Argeson with his Chambres Ardentes (by the way that France took a long time to recognize that witchcraft was a State of Mind, or product of people who wanted to give themselves importance as defended by the Inquisitor Alonso Salazar y Frías https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... that together with the German Jesuit Spee was a pioneer, and avoided an important stigma in Spain. This character has been treated by María Elvira Roca Barea in her latest novel. The Chambres ardentes were first used by Frasncisco I to suppress the Huguenots, and also France still had Inquisition (they don't say so). It is not that I am in favor of the occult, and witchcraft, and you know that I am a total anti-Satanist and it is curious that in France there are so many people like Gilles de Rais who inspired Bluebeard https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... the character of Perrault (the storyteller's father is mentioned in this novel) anyway people like the Marquise de Brinvilliers, o La Voizin, no matter how much esotericism they have, are serial killers, and very dangerous people that anti-Catholics would do wrong to idealize. But that is no reason for the reaction of Louis XIV who put a Police State in which the righteous pay for sinners, and in which anyone can go to jail (The Bastille in this case, or another state prison). We should talk a lot about the arbitrariness of Louis XIV (many of his excesses in my opinion were those that prepared the 1789 Revolution, which was also not justified. In fact, the Fronde was a Rehearsal. This shows one thing, and that is how uncomfortable the capital felt with the new Bourbon dynasty. Versailles is an attempt to escape from a place where the Bourbons were never comfortable.) It is this fear of the tumults experienced in the Fronde that makes Louis XIV act with that authoritarianism, and rigor. Much has been said about Louis XIV, who resembled Philip II, and who was more Austria than Bourbon, but I do not see Philip II committing these savagery that Louis XIV does I would never see him agreeing with the Turk to finish off his enemies, as seen in the siege of Vienna (1683), nor with the Protestants Ernest Lavisse dixit https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... . Despite the strained relations of Philip II with some Popes I do not see him promoting a schism as I try to promote Louis XIV (the Gallican schism) Philip II observed Trent from the beginning, and it does not matter to me that there were wars of religion in France, because despite the cities given to the Huguenots (among them the Rochele given in the Edict of Nantes) the Edict of Trent could have been perfectly applied in time of Henry IV. It took sixty years until Richelieu's time for it to be applied. He had the incident of the Corsican guard with the Papacy, bombing of Genoa violating the International Law of Hugo Grotius, and the School of Salamanca https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... https://www.goodreads.com/author/show.... This did not prevent a brutal repression of the Jansenists. To me the time of Louis XIV reminds me a little of that of Cromwell (drawn by Robert E. Howard https://www.goodreads.com/series/1322... a lot of puritanism, a lot of religious fanaticism, but it is full of sorcerers, demons, and sorcerers). Something could be said of what happens in this novel, and in the France of that time, where the privileged are the most immoral, including the royal family. Hoffmann tells us some great episodes of black chronicle, and for me this short story of just 69 is a precedent of the detective novel. It is true that no detective appears as Dupin https://www.goodreads.com/series/8042..., or Lecocq https://www.goodreads.com/series/9867..., nor is a detection method applied. Nor is the first story of this genre at the end of the eighteenth century the father of the writer Mary Shelley https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... William Godwin (father of anarchism) https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... had already written "The Mysteries of Caleb Williams" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... , but despite the fact that Hoffmann did not have the radical creed, nor the political pretensions of Godwin.
In the end this novel is a novel of miscarriage of justice, and of search for a false culprit who must defend himself from a crime he has not committed against a repressive judicial and state apparatus. This genre would later be developed by Edward Bulwer Lytton https://www.goodreads.com/author/list..., Eugene Sue https://www.goodreads.com/author/show..., or Paul Feval https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... (this story could have been written by a Chateaubriand https://www.goodreads.com/author/show..., a Dumas https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... , Stendhal https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... even, or a Victor Hugo https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... ), if I rush the Balzac of "A dark affair" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... . After the events that occurred, which Hoffmann tells us so brilliantly, a strange individual arrives at the mansion of Mademoiselle Scuderi, who as already said is a real character. So it violates the rule of my friend Professor Manuel Alfonseca https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... (I recommend his wonderful books, and his blog Divulciencia), which in turn takes from "War, and Peace" by Leo Tolstoy https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6.... An individual calls very late at night and disturbs the lady-in-waiting of Mmme Scuderi La Martiniere, and Baptiste is not there because he has gone to a sister's wedding, and very reluctantly gives a chest to Martiniere to give to Scuderi, who is a seventy-year-old spinster. Although due to his virtue he enjoys the favor of the Court of Maintenon, of Le Harpe, Boileau https://www.goodreads.com/author/show..., and Racine https://www.goodreads.com/author/show..., and is a kind of good genius of Louis XIV. When they give him the chest he is surprised because it is a very expensive jewel that not even Madame de Montespan (the second mistress of Louis XIV) would wear. Mademoiselle Scuderi thinks that behind this could be the band of thieves, which is the terror of Paris, and that they have taken over from Brinvilliers, and La Voizin (the first an expert poisoner tested her poisons using them with foundlings of orphanages, and the poor. Here it is told how they managed to capture her one of the characters disguised himself as a priest posing as a priest to enter a sacred enclosure, and dedicated himself to flirting with this evil woman, and so they caught her). As Scuderi has that suspicion that the jewel may be stolen. She knows that only the goldsmith/jeweler Henri Cardillac would be able to create such a brilliant work so she tries to return it, but when she meets Madame de Maintenon we see that the goldsmith who has not been the product of a theft, and who, due to the kindness, and virtue of Mademoiselle Scuderi gives it to her (something strange due to Cardillac's somewhat special character). The protagonist feels bad accepting it. We see that the same person who gave you the chest gives you a note saying to return the chest, and to get rid of it because danger lurks if you retain it. Then the murdered jeweler/goldsmith appears (Cardillac did not behave as the servant requested he worked when he felt like it) and the main accused is his assistant Olivier Brusson who is arrested by La Regnie's men despite the protests of Henri Cardillac's daughter (Madelon) who is in love with Brusson. Everyone speaks highly of the boy, and they believe that he is incapable of killing Cardillac (the one who catches Brusson by the same man who caught the Brinvilliers). Scuderi is convinced that Brusson is innocent. He has the feeling that he knows Brusson about something, but he doesn't know what. He also decides to take in Madelon, and then something surprising happens that the authorities ask him to meet Olivier Brusson. The torture has failed, and Brusson himself will only tell the truth to Mademoiselle Scuderi. Then there is a very well executed flashback where the link between Scuderi is told, and Brusson how he lived in poverty with his mother in Geneva, how he highlighted how he became a goldsmith, and went on to work for Henri Cardillac, how he falls in love with Madelon, and how this causes the rejection of the Father, and his dismissal, but Brusson discovers the secret of Cardillac, And he has to admit it. This event will serve to clarify the case of robberies with violence. The fantastic is much better treated, and is more realistic (in the style of "The Turn of the Screw" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... but without being so soporific) (Hoffmann does not usually cut himself when it comes to using the fantastic element here is more contained, and is more plausible, and realistic so the fantastic element of the novel is much better). The villain is not known if he is a schizophrenic, or has a split personality, or is truly possessed by a demonic presence. Anyway, the protagonist knows the truth that proves Brusson's innocence, but La Regnie does not want to let go (he is a terrifying man so cruel, that many of his victims consider him a demon. He is cold, cruel, and inhumane.) The real killer confesses the truth to Scuderi, but does not want to testify, and for the resolution of the case, but does not want to testify. So thanks to a lawyer Pierre Andilly it is decided to seek royal intercession. Despite the fact that the work ends favorably, although Louis XIV does not come out very well. For me Hoffmann has written a story of great quality, which has exceeded all my expectations. I do not understand how this story has such a low rating in @Goodreads because it has everything (none of the subplots fail. In all of them it is perfect). A good story full of suspense, historical novel, and a good love story that shows with lights and shadows what Louis XIV's France was like. One of the best stories I've ever read. My grade is (5/5). P.S. Hoffmann is not Catholic, although there are many references to Marian devotion, and with much respect since the characters are Catholics including the heroine of this story, but he was married to a Polish woman Mischa, although he was in love with another woman, and like many German romantics this movement was a necessary reaction to the Deist-rationalist Enlightenment. Heavily influenced by Schlegel https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... , Johann Joseph Görres http https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... s://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2529968... , Stoldberg , Eichendorff https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... , Brentano https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... Novalis https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... despite being pietistic was Catholicizing about the beneficial influence of German romanticism I recommend "Crown of Angels" by Gertrud von Le Fort https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... , and on the evil the wonderful novel of " El mundo entre guiones" by Jesús Trillo-Figueroa https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... edited by @bhomolegens.
I had no excessive sympathy for Hoffmann, I had read him a little thing, but I did not consider him a great writer. Back in my days of militant anti-Americanism, I thought I was the forerunner of Edgar Allan Poe https://www.goodreads.com/author/show..., and that Poe owed a lot to Hoffmann. Of course my ideas have changed, but I may not have been so wrong in my youth that Hoffmann could be the forerunner of Edgar Allan Poe. This story would be a short story whose protagonist would be Mademoiselle Scudery https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... a French poet, and writer of the time of Louis XIV. We see that we are at the end of the last great stage of Louis XIV in the 1680s (its decline will begin after the Peace of Ryswick of 1697 I recommend a video of @IohannesAustriacus and @Decíamosayer to analyze the figure of Louis XIV). It is very interesting to compare this short story "The Voice and the Sword" by Vic Echogoyen https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5..., because the vision given by ETA Hoffmann of France is very similar to that given by this novelist (not to mention that in this novel about Madame Maupin there are many common characters). France almost looks like a police state, but despite all that tight surveillance of La Regnie the head of the French police a precedent of Machault, Fouche, or Vidocq heinous crimes continue to be committed, and people have lost freedom.
In my opinion, the anti-Spanish Black Legend has been internalized so much that such sinister characters from other countries as La Regnie, or Topcliffe in England are unknown (on the other hand, Torquemada is known https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5.... Such sinister characters do not avoid Monsters like that Italian Exili, and the horrendous Marchionesses of Brinvilliers, and La Voizin (the latter involved with characters of the Court of as the Montespan lover of Louis XIV). At this moment Maria Teresa is already dead, and the King courts his third lover with whom he will marry in a morganatic way the Maintenon). Anyway, as monstrous as the crimes told in this story are (there is talk of another sinister murderer and necromancer La Croix all disciples of this Exili, who in turn was a disciple of Glazer who sought the philosopher's stone). However, the repressive measures of the men of Louis XIV, such as La Regnie, or Argeson with his Chambres Ardentes (by the way that France took a long time to recognize that witchcraft was a State of Mind, or product of people who wanted to give themselves importance as defended by the Inquisitor Alonso Salazar y Frías https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... that together with the German Jesuit Spee was a pioneer, and avoided an important stigma in Spain. This character has been treated by María Elvira Roca Barea in her latest novel. The Chambres ardentes were first used by Frasncisco I to suppress the Huguenots, and also France still had Inquisition (they don't say so). It is not that I am in favor of the occult, and witchcraft, and you know that I am a total anti-Satanist and it is curious that in France there are so many people like Gilles de Rais who inspired Bluebeard https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... the character of Perrault (the storyteller's father is mentioned in this novel) anyway people like the Marquise de Brinvilliers, o La Voizin, no matter how much esotericism they have, are serial killers, and very dangerous people that anti-Catholics would do wrong to idealize. But that is no reason for the reaction of Louis XIV who put a Police State in which the righteous pay for sinners, and in which anyone can go to jail (The Bastille in this case, or another state prison). We should talk a lot about the arbitrariness of Louis XIV (many of his excesses in my opinion were those that prepared the 1789 Revolution, which was also not justified. In fact, the Fronde was a Rehearsal. This shows one thing, and that is how uncomfortable the capital felt with the new Bourbon dynasty. Versailles is an attempt to escape from a place where the Bourbons were never comfortable.) It is this fear of the tumults experienced in the Fronde that makes Louis XIV act with that authoritarianism, and rigor. Much has been said about Louis XIV, who resembled Philip II, and who was more Austria than Bourbon, but I do not see Philip II committing these savagery that Louis XIV does I would never see him agreeing with the Turk to finish off his enemies, as seen in the siege of Vienna (1683), nor with the Protestants Ernest Lavisse dixit https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... . Despite the strained relations of Philip II with some Popes I do not see him promoting a schism as I try to promote Louis XIV (the Gallican schism) Philip II observed Trent from the beginning, and it does not matter to me that there were wars of religion in France, because despite the cities given to the Huguenots (among them the Rochele given in the Edict of Nantes) the Edict of Trent could have been perfectly applied in time of Henry IV. It took sixty years until Richelieu's time for it to be applied. He had the incident of the Corsican guard with the Papacy, bombing of Genoa violating the International Law of Hugo Grotius, and the School of Salamanca https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... https://www.goodreads.com/author/show.... This did not prevent a brutal repression of the Jansenists. To me the time of Louis XIV reminds me a little of that of Cromwell (drawn by Robert E. Howard https://www.goodreads.com/series/1322... a lot of puritanism, a lot of religious fanaticism, but it is full of sorcerers, demons, and sorcerers). Something could be said of what happens in this novel, and in the France of that time, where the privileged are the most immoral, including the royal family. Hoffmann tells us some great episodes of black chronicle, and for me this short story of just 69 is a precedent of the detective novel. It is true that no detective appears as Dupin https://www.goodreads.com/series/8042..., or Lecocq https://www.goodreads.com/series/9867..., nor is a detection method applied. Nor is the first story of this genre at the end of the eighteenth century the father of the writer Mary Shelley https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... William Godwin (father of anarchism) https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... had already written "The Mysteries of Caleb Williams" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... , but despite the fact that Hoffmann did not have the radical creed, nor the political pretensions of Godwin.
In the end this novel is a novel of miscarriage of justice, and of search for a false culprit who must defend himself from a crime he has not committed against a repressive judicial and state apparatus. This genre would later be developed by Edward Bulwer Lytton https://www.goodreads.com/author/list..., Eugene Sue https://www.goodreads.com/author/show..., or Paul Feval https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... (this story could have been written by a Chateaubriand https://www.goodreads.com/author/show..., a Dumas https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... , Stendhal https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... even, or a Victor Hugo https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... ), if I rush the Balzac of "A dark affair" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... . After the events that occurred, which Hoffmann tells us so brilliantly, a strange individual arrives at the mansion of Mademoiselle Scuderi, who as already said is a real character. So it violates the rule of my friend Professor Manuel Alfonseca https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... (I recommend his wonderful books, and his blog Divulciencia), which in turn takes from "War, and Peace" by Leo Tolstoy https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6.... An individual calls very late at night and disturbs the lady-in-waiting of Mmme Scuderi La Martiniere, and Baptiste is not there because he has gone to a sister's wedding, and very reluctantly gives a chest to Martiniere to give to Scuderi, who is a seventy-year-old spinster. Although due to his virtue he enjoys the favor of the Court of Maintenon, of Le Harpe, Boileau https://www.goodreads.com/author/show..., and Racine https://www.goodreads.com/author/show..., and is a kind of good genius of Louis XIV. When they give him the chest he is surprised because it is a very expensive jewel that not even Madame de Montespan (the second mistress of Louis XIV) would wear. Mademoiselle Scuderi thinks that behind this could be the band of thieves, which is the terror of Paris, and that they have taken over from Brinvilliers, and La Voizin (the first an expert poisoner tested her poisons using them with foundlings of orphanages, and the poor. Here it is told how they managed to capture her one of the characters disguised himself as a priest posing as a priest to enter a sacred enclosure, and dedicated himself to flirting with this evil woman, and so they caught her). As Scuderi has that suspicion that the jewel may be stolen. She knows that only the goldsmith/jeweler Henri Cardillac would be able to create such a brilliant work so she tries to return it, but when she meets Madame de Maintenon we see that the goldsmith who has not been the product of a theft, and who, due to the kindness, and virtue of Mademoiselle Scuderi gives it to her (something strange due to Cardillac's somewhat special character). The protagonist feels bad accepting it. We see that the same person who gave you the chest gives you a note saying to return the chest, and to get rid of it because danger lurks if you retain it. Then the murdered jeweler/goldsmith appears (Cardillac did not behave as the servant requested he worked when he felt like it) and the main accused is his assistant Olivier Brusson who is arrested by La Regnie's men despite the protests of Henri Cardillac's daughter (Madelon) who is in love with Brusson. Everyone speaks highly of the boy, and they believe that he is incapable of killing Cardillac (the one who catches Brusson by the same man who caught the Brinvilliers). Scuderi is convinced that Brusson is innocent. He has the feeling that he knows Brusson about something, but he doesn't know what. He also decides to take in Madelon, and then something surprising happens that the authorities ask him to meet Olivier Brusson. The torture has failed, and Brusson himself will only tell the truth to Mademoiselle Scuderi. Then there is a very well executed flashback where the link between Scuderi is told, and Brusson how he lived in poverty with his mother in Geneva, how he highlighted how he became a goldsmith, and went on to work for Henri Cardillac, how he falls in love with Madelon, and how this causes the rejection of the Father, and his dismissal, but Brusson discovers the secret of Cardillac, And he has to admit it. This event will serve to clarify the case of robberies with violence. The fantastic is much better treated, and is more realistic (in the style of "The Turn of the Screw" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... but without being so soporific) (Hoffmann does not usually cut himself when it comes to using the fantastic element here is more contained, and is more plausible, and realistic so the fantastic element of the novel is much better). The villain is not known if he is a schizophrenic, or has a split personality, or is truly possessed by a demonic presence. Anyway, the protagonist knows the truth that proves Brusson's innocence, but La Regnie does not want to let go (he is a terrifying man so cruel, that many of his victims consider him a demon. He is cold, cruel, and inhumane.) The real killer confesses the truth to Scuderi, but does not want to testify, and for the resolution of the case, but does not want to testify. So thanks to a lawyer Pierre Andilly it is decided to seek royal intercession. Despite the fact that the work ends favorably, although Louis XIV does not come out very well. For me Hoffmann has written a story of great quality, which has exceeded all my expectations. I do not understand how this story has such a low rating in @Goodreads because it has everything (none of the subplots fail. In all of them it is perfect). A good story full of suspense, historical novel, and a good love story that shows with lights and shadows what Louis XIV's France was like. One of the best stories I've ever read. My grade is (5/5). P.S. Hoffmann is not Catholic, although there are many references to Marian devotion, and with much respect since the characters are Catholics including the heroine of this story, but he was married to a Polish woman Mischa, although he was in love with another woman, and like many German romantics this movement was a necessary reaction to the Deist-rationalist Enlightenment. Heavily influenced by Schlegel https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... , Johann Joseph Görres http https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... s://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2529968... , Stoldberg , Eichendorff https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... , Brentano https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... Novalis https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... despite being pietistic was Catholicizing about the beneficial influence of German romanticism I recommend "Crown of Angels" by Gertrud von Le Fort https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... , and on the evil the wonderful novel of " El mundo entre guiones" by Jesús Trillo-Figueroa https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... edited by @bhomolegens.
August 11, 2025
sehr mid - nicht besonders spannend oder aufregend, viel unnötiges geschwafel und die erwartungen an eine weibliche hauptfigur, die diesem status gerecht werden wurden enttäuscht: die person von scuderi wird von den männern um sie in der geschichte getragen und gestützt, ohne die männer wäre sie kaum existent. außer wenigen eigenschaften, die „edle damen“ wohl sinngemäß innehaben ist wird sie kaum beschrieben. die lösung des kriminalfalls gelingt ihr durch zufall und sie dient lediglich als sprachrohr für die gedanken und äußerungen von männern, die sie dann vor anderen männern wiederholt. weiters sind all ihre handlungen und gedanken von großen emotionen getrieben (bittet la regnie unter tränen um die freilassung, ist von herzen von der unschuld des schönen mädels überzeugt,..) und die dame scheint sich keine gedanken zu machen - klassische darstellung von frauen als emotionsgetrieben ohne die erwähnung rationaler gedanken.
fühlt sich an wie eine pappfigur ohne charakter und female-protagonist-bait ohne jegliche bemühungen, den charakter der scuderi als bedeutsamer als eine edle, gnädige sprecherin darzustellen.
fühlt sich an wie eine pappfigur ohne charakter und female-protagonist-bait ohne jegliche bemühungen, den charakter der scuderi als bedeutsamer als eine edle, gnädige sprecherin darzustellen.
November 30, 2012
I'd read Hoffna's the Devil's Elixirs before and liked it so was pleased to discover this in a charity shop. It was a wonderful story of murder set against the backdrop of the "affair of the poisons" in Paris. The atmosphere was very dark and claustrophobic. Everyone was paranoid and there was much fear of the police. The main character Mme de Scuderi was a great heroine, 73, sharp and compassionate, she was also a force to be reckoned with and even the King listened to her. The plot was interesting, dramatic with lots of twists and turns. Definitely one I'd recommend. I shall have to attempt to find more Hoffman, once again I wish I knew German better so I could read him in the original! :(
September 4, 2017
4 stars!
Das Fräulein von Scuderi has been one of the many books I read during my school years in one of my language classes. I enjoyed some of them, while other were not at all my cup of tea. Das Fräulein von Scuderi by E.T.A. Hoffman has definitly been one of the very best. I absolutely loved this clever mystery set in the Times of Louis XIV and I can only recommend it!
Das Fräulein von Scuderi has been one of the many books I read during my school years in one of my language classes. I enjoyed some of them, while other were not at all my cup of tea. Das Fräulein von Scuderi by E.T.A. Hoffman has definitly been one of the very best. I absolutely loved this clever mystery set in the Times of Louis XIV and I can only recommend it!
June 29, 2021
It is E.T.A Hoffmann of course did I like it! One star deducted because the beginning did not interest me and it was hard to start but still I love a dark murder mystery :)
Read
February 5, 2024Der langweiligste Kriminalroman, den ich je gelesen hab
August 13, 2015
One might want to read Das Fräulein von Scuderi either because it is a very solid work by the great master of Fantastic literature E.T.A. Hoffman or because in the view of many it is the first work of European detective fiction having been published in 1819 some 25 years become Edgar Allen Poe's "Purloined Letter."
There is absolutely no question that Das Fräulein von Scuderi is a much better detective story than the "Purloined Lletter" which is nothing more than a fable demonstrating that logic must be used to unmask a perpetrator that wishes to conceal a crime.
Das Fräulein von Scuderi features a professional crime inspector, a formal investigation and a judiciary. Hoffman carefully analyzes the methods, motivations and characteristics of all three. Moreover, he has an elderly private detective Fräulein von Scuderi who like Agatha Christie's Miss Marple decides to conduct her own investigation when she concludes that the public authorities are failing in their duties.
Hoffman's detective story unfolds like a modern one. A series of strange events occur that only take on meaning when it becomes clear that a series of crimes are being committed. Clues and red herrings appear according the rhythm and pattern of contemporary whodunits. The centre of suspicion shifts several times before the identity of the criminal is revealed.
Das Fräulein von Scuderi is indeed a detective story. What is not clear however is that how many of the prominent mystery writers of the late nineteenth century (e.g. Arthur Conan Doyle, Emile Gaboriau, Wilkie Collin,or Maurice Leblanc) to whom modern detective fiction can be clearly linked either read Hoffman's story or were influenced by it. (The case seems to be fairly strong that Poe knew of the work.) Das Fräulein von Scuderi may in fact simply be a story by fantasy writer about unravelling a mystery that only became a work of crime fiction a century later.
Whatever Das Fräulein von Scuderi is it is worth reading but not on its own. Everyone should read a collection with a wide sample of E.T.A. Hoffamn's tales which had an extraordinary influence on European culture in the nineteenth century. Das Fräulein von Scuderi it should be noted is not a typical Hoffman. Hoffman was a fantasy writer who generally did not write about mysteries that could be solved definitively nor about truths that could be conclusively proved. In this sense, Das Fraulein von Scuderi is tangental to central Hoffman opus.
There is absolutely no question that Das Fräulein von Scuderi is a much better detective story than the "Purloined Lletter" which is nothing more than a fable demonstrating that logic must be used to unmask a perpetrator that wishes to conceal a crime.
Das Fräulein von Scuderi features a professional crime inspector, a formal investigation and a judiciary. Hoffman carefully analyzes the methods, motivations and characteristics of all three. Moreover, he has an elderly private detective Fräulein von Scuderi who like Agatha Christie's Miss Marple decides to conduct her own investigation when she concludes that the public authorities are failing in their duties.
Hoffman's detective story unfolds like a modern one. A series of strange events occur that only take on meaning when it becomes clear that a series of crimes are being committed. Clues and red herrings appear according the rhythm and pattern of contemporary whodunits. The centre of suspicion shifts several times before the identity of the criminal is revealed.
Das Fräulein von Scuderi is indeed a detective story. What is not clear however is that how many of the prominent mystery writers of the late nineteenth century (e.g. Arthur Conan Doyle, Emile Gaboriau, Wilkie Collin,or Maurice Leblanc) to whom modern detective fiction can be clearly linked either read Hoffman's story or were influenced by it. (The case seems to be fairly strong that Poe knew of the work.) Das Fräulein von Scuderi may in fact simply be a story by fantasy writer about unravelling a mystery that only became a work of crime fiction a century later.
Whatever Das Fräulein von Scuderi is it is worth reading but not on its own. Everyone should read a collection with a wide sample of E.T.A. Hoffamn's tales which had an extraordinary influence on European culture in the nineteenth century. Das Fräulein von Scuderi it should be noted is not a typical Hoffman. Hoffman was a fantasy writer who generally did not write about mysteries that could be solved definitively nor about truths that could be conclusively proved. In this sense, Das Fraulein von Scuderi is tangental to central Hoffman opus.
January 24, 2022
Das Fräulein von Scuderi is considered the first German crime novella and is about the solving of a mysterious series of murders in 17th century Paris by the title character, who takes her cue from the French writer Madeleine de Scudéry (1607-1701).
Hoffmann's novella is set in the fall of 1680. 73-year-old Miss Madeleine of Scuderi is a respected poet at the court of King Louis XIV. At that time, many murders are taking place in Paris, the victims of which are killed by a dagger thrust through the heart. They all follow the same principle: the victims are always noble men who are on their way to their mistress with a gift of jewelry, and this piece of jewelry is always stolen. They now turn to the king for help. He consults with Fräulein von Scuderi. She lightly acknowledges the matter with the bon mot " Un amant qui craint les voleurs, n'est point digne d'amour " ("A lover who fears thieves is not worthy of love"), which prompts the amused king not to intensify the investigation any further, also because in the near past in another series of murders there were excessive prosecutions in which innocent people were also executed.
The events surrounding Das Fräulein von Scuderi can be traced back to historical events reported by Voltaire in his Siècle de Louis XIV and Johann Christoph Wagenseil in his Chronicle of the City of Nuremberg. The cases of the Marquise de Brinvilliers and Catherine Monvoisin in the poison affair, which Hoffmann knew as a lawyer from the Pitaval, also serve as background. The romantic-realist tale first appeared in 1819 in the pocket book for the year 1820. Dedicated to love and friendship.
The Cardillac syndrome: artists, in order to make a living from their art, have to sell their works, that is, they have to part with them. But this is sometimes difficult for them, since their art represents an important part of their identity. Even Goethe's Tasso is unable to detach himself from his poetic work, since he only finds himself in it. More modern artists often make do with carefully kept lists of buyers, occasionally also with contractual rights of repurchase. Arnulf Rainer, for example, reserved the right to visit and change a sold work at any time. In this context, some psychologists speak of the Cardillac syndrome in reference to E. T. A. Hoffmann's novella.
Personal opinion: Unfortunately, I don't remember in which class we read this book ... but I think it was with Mr. Herkel. In any case, I did not like it.
Hoffmann's novella is set in the fall of 1680. 73-year-old Miss Madeleine of Scuderi is a respected poet at the court of King Louis XIV. At that time, many murders are taking place in Paris, the victims of which are killed by a dagger thrust through the heart. They all follow the same principle: the victims are always noble men who are on their way to their mistress with a gift of jewelry, and this piece of jewelry is always stolen. They now turn to the king for help. He consults with Fräulein von Scuderi. She lightly acknowledges the matter with the bon mot " Un amant qui craint les voleurs, n'est point digne d'amour " ("A lover who fears thieves is not worthy of love"), which prompts the amused king not to intensify the investigation any further, also because in the near past in another series of murders there were excessive prosecutions in which innocent people were also executed.
The events surrounding Das Fräulein von Scuderi can be traced back to historical events reported by Voltaire in his Siècle de Louis XIV and Johann Christoph Wagenseil in his Chronicle of the City of Nuremberg. The cases of the Marquise de Brinvilliers and Catherine Monvoisin in the poison affair, which Hoffmann knew as a lawyer from the Pitaval, also serve as background. The romantic-realist tale first appeared in 1819 in the pocket book for the year 1820. Dedicated to love and friendship.
The Cardillac syndrome: artists, in order to make a living from their art, have to sell their works, that is, they have to part with them. But this is sometimes difficult for them, since their art represents an important part of their identity. Even Goethe's Tasso is unable to detach himself from his poetic work, since he only finds himself in it. More modern artists often make do with carefully kept lists of buyers, occasionally also with contractual rights of repurchase. Arnulf Rainer, for example, reserved the right to visit and change a sold work at any time. In this context, some psychologists speak of the Cardillac syndrome in reference to E. T. A. Hoffmann's novella.
Personal opinion: Unfortunately, I don't remember in which class we read this book ... but I think it was with Mr. Herkel. In any case, I did not like it.
March 28, 2021
Το 1819 ο Ε.Τ.Α Hoffman, έχοντας πραγματοποιήσει ενδελεχή έρευνα, έγραψε την παρούσα διήγηση.
Βρισκόμαστε στο Παρίσι τέλη του 17ου αιώνα την περίοδο της βασιλείας του Λουδοβίκου ΙΔ'. Είναι η περίοδος μετά την "υπόθεση των δηλητηρίων, ένα σκάνδαλο που αφορούσε το θάνατο επιφανών αριστοκρατών με μυστηριώδεις δηλητηριάσεις. Η έρευνα κατέληξε στη θανατική καταδίκη 36 ενόχων.
Μέσα σε αυτό το ήδη ταραγμένο κλίμα, μιας κοινωνίας κλυδωνισμένης από δολοπλοκίες και ίντριγκες, η παρισινή αριστοκρατία ταλανίζεται για μια ακόμη φορά.
Μια νέα σκοτεινή υπόθεση φόνων, ένας κατά συρροή δολοφόνος σκοτώνει και ληστεύει τα θύματα του. Κοινό στοιχείο είναι ότι τα κλοπιμαία ήταν κοσμήματα αγορασμένα από τον ταλαντούχο δημιουργό κοσμημάτων Καρντιγιάκ.
Μια τέτοια νύχτα εμπλέκεται στον ιστό της υπόθεσης η γηραιά, αξιοσέβαστη, συγγραφέας Μαντλέν ντε Σκιντερί. Στόχος της πια, να βρει τον πραγματικό ένοχο και να απαλλάξει των κατηγοριών τους αδίκως συλληφθέντες.
Μέσα σε μια ατμόσφαιρα μυστηρίου με στοιχεία υπερφυσικού, ο Ε. Τ. Α. Hoffmann δημιουργεί μια ιστορία αμάλγαμα αστυνομικής πλοκής, ιστορικών προσώπων/γεγονότων και μυθοπλασίας σκηνογραφημένη στο "δαιμονικό Παρίσι " του 17ου αιώνα.
Μια πρώιμη Miss Marple, ίσως το πρώτο αστυνομικό μυθιστόρημα, στοιχεία μεταφυσικά και τρόμου που συναντάμε στα έργα του Edgar Alan Poe, μια έμμεση αναφορά και παρουσίαση των συνθηκών στο "δαιμονικό Βερολίνο " των αρχών του 19ου αιώνα όπου ζούσε ο Ε. T. A. Hoffmann.
Εξαιρετικό, άκρως αναλυτικό και διαφωτιστικό το επίμετρο, που συνοδεύει τη διήγηση, από τον μεταφραστή Νίκο Σκοπλάκη.
Βρισκόμαστε στο Παρίσι τέλη του 17ου αιώνα την περίοδο της βασιλείας του Λουδοβίκου ΙΔ'. Είναι η περίοδος μετά την "υπόθεση των δηλητηρίων, ένα σκάνδαλο που αφορούσε το θάνατο επιφανών αριστοκρατών με μυστηριώδεις δηλητηριάσεις. Η έρευνα κατέληξε στη θανατική καταδίκη 36 ενόχων.
Μέσα σε αυτό το ήδη ταραγμένο κλίμα, μιας κοινωνίας κλυδωνισμένης από δολοπλοκίες και ίντριγκες, η παρισινή αριστοκρατία ταλανίζεται για μια ακόμη φορά.
Μια νέα σκοτεινή υπόθεση φόνων, ένας κατά συρροή δολοφόνος σκοτώνει και ληστεύει τα θύματα του. Κοινό στοιχείο είναι ότι τα κλοπιμαία ήταν κοσμήματα αγορασμένα από τον ταλαντούχο δημιουργό κοσμημάτων Καρντιγιάκ.
Μια τέτοια νύχτα εμπλέκεται στον ιστό της υπόθεσης η γηραιά, αξιοσέβαστη, συγγραφέας Μαντλέν ντε Σκιντερί. Στόχος της πια, να βρει τον πραγματικό ένοχο και να απαλλάξει των κατηγοριών τους αδίκως συλληφθέντες.
Μέσα σε μια ατμόσφαιρα μυστηρίου με στοιχεία υπερφυσικού, ο Ε. Τ. Α. Hoffmann δημιουργεί μια ιστορία αμάλγαμα αστυνομικής πλοκής, ιστορικών προσώπων/γεγονότων και μυθοπλασίας σκηνογραφημένη στο "δαιμονικό Παρίσι " του 17ου αιώνα.
Μια πρώιμη Miss Marple, ίσως το πρώτο αστυνομικό μυθιστόρημα, στοιχεία μεταφυσικά και τρόμου που συναντάμε στα έργα του Edgar Alan Poe, μια έμμεση αναφορά και παρουσίαση των συνθηκών στο "δαιμονικό Βερολίνο " των αρχών του 19ου αιώνα όπου ζούσε ο Ε. T. A. Hoffmann.
Εξαιρετικό, άκρως αναλυτικό και διαφωτιστικό το επίμετρο, που συνοδεύει τη διήγηση, από τον μεταφραστή Νίκο Σκοπλάκη.
March 30, 2019
1819 tarihli bu kısa roman, Batı edebiyatında polisiye kurgunun ilk örneklerinden biri sayılabilir ve yaşlı bir hanım efendi olan Matmazel Scudéry, Agatha Christie’nin Miss Marple karakterinin öncüsü olarak düşünülebilir. 16. Yüzyıl Fransa’sında geçen olaylar, hem bir suçun izini takip ediyor, hem de Hoffmann’ın gözde temaları olan uğursuz bir yazgıya ve takıntılı ruh hallerine odaklanıyor. Kitabı alacaklara, bir solukta okumalarını öneririm. Çeşitli nedenlerle biraz bölünerek okudum ve kitap bittiğinde, sanki daha hızlı okusaydım daha da tadına varırmışım gibi bir hisse kapıldım.
July 10, 2024
Matmazel de Scudery,Alman edebiyatının ilk polisiye hikayesi.Bu suç hikayesi oldukça kısa olsa da gotik ve kanlı bir Paris’te geçiyor.
Matmazel de Scudery,bir dizi acımasız suçu ortaya çıkarmak için bir dedektife dönüşüyor ve onun müdahalesi sayesinde çözülüyor.
Bana kalırsa katilin kimliğini en başından tahmin etmek zor değil,ancak hikaye hala ilginç.Çünkü suçluluğu kanıtlamakla ilgili değil,şüphenenilen kişiyi berat ettirmekle ilgili.
Kasvetli,kısmen biraz da hastalıklı bir ceza davasının gizemini yavaş yavaş takip edebileceğiniz eğlenceli bir kitap.
Matmazel de Scudery,bir dizi acımasız suçu ortaya çıkarmak için bir dedektife dönüşüyor ve onun müdahalesi sayesinde çözülüyor.
Bana kalırsa katilin kimliğini en başından tahmin etmek zor değil,ancak hikaye hala ilginç.Çünkü suçluluğu kanıtlamakla ilgili değil,şüphenenilen kişiyi berat ettirmekle ilgili.
Kasvetli,kısmen biraz da hastalıklı bir ceza davasının gizemini yavaş yavaş takip edebileceğiniz eğlenceli bir kitap.
November 26, 2019
"Hırsızlardan korkan bir sevgili, aşka lâyık değildir" dizelerini okuyunca bu kitabı yazmış Hoffmann (1776-1822).
Roman boyunca, Edgar Allen Poe tarzının öncüsü bir üslûp, zekâ, yaratıcılık, felsefe, kıvraklık, romantizm ve erdemli yaşama davet hissediliyor.
Polisiye roman, Güneş Kral XIV.Louis dönemi Paris'inde (1680; ünlü St.Germain bölgesi kenar mahalle konumunda), aristokrasinin hayata hükmedişi ve halkın onlardan uzak yaşamı içerisinde seyrediyor.
"...sevimli bir meleğin tatlı gülümseyişle el salladığı ama şeytanın kor pençelerle sımsıkı tuttuğu bir lanetli..."
"...saflığı ve erdemi mahvedecek bir sırrı, sadece kahramanca bir kararla mezara götürmek istemesi...
"...bir aşırılıktan diğer aşırılığa kolayca geçen halk, önce azılı katil olarak lanetlenen ve parçalanmak istenen kişiyi, giyotine çıkmadan, barbarca bir hukuk sisteminin suçsuz kurbanı olarak görüp ağıt yakmaya başlamıştı..."
Roman boyunca, Edgar Allen Poe tarzının öncüsü bir üslûp, zekâ, yaratıcılık, felsefe, kıvraklık, romantizm ve erdemli yaşama davet hissediliyor.
Polisiye roman, Güneş Kral XIV.Louis dönemi Paris'inde (1680; ünlü St.Germain bölgesi kenar mahalle konumunda), aristokrasinin hayata hükmedişi ve halkın onlardan uzak yaşamı içerisinde seyrediyor.
"...sevimli bir meleğin tatlı gülümseyişle el salladığı ama şeytanın kor pençelerle sımsıkı tuttuğu bir lanetli..."
"...saflığı ve erdemi mahvedecek bir sırrı, sadece kahramanca bir kararla mezara götürmek istemesi...
"...bir aşırılıktan diğer aşırılığa kolayca geçen halk, önce azılı katil olarak lanetlenen ve parçalanmak istenen kişiyi, giyotine çıkmadan, barbarca bir hukuk sisteminin suçsuz kurbanı olarak görüp ağıt yakmaya başlamıştı..."
November 25, 2024
Mir ist besonders in letzter Zeit aufgefallen, dass ich durch meinen Beruf kaum noch Bücher für mich selbst, sondern hauptsächlich für meinen Beruf lese und ich somit schon lange keinen Klassiker mehr gelesen hatte. Deshalb entschied ich mich dazu, mal wieder einen deutschen Klassiker zu lesen.
Und welcher Schriftsteller eignet sich dafür besser als E.T.A. Hoffmann? Er ist einer meiner liebsten Schriftsteller was deutsche Klassiker anbelangt und die Epoche der Romantik ist ebenso meine liebste.
Ich habe von ihm bereits "Der goldne Topf" und "Der Sandmann" gelesen und war begeistert von diesen Werken. Und auch "Das Fräulein von Scuderi" hat mich wieder komplett überzeugt.
Es wird in dieser Kriminalnovelle ein sehr realistischer und überzeugender Spannungsbogen geschaffen, der mich nicht mehr losgelassen hat.
E.T.A. Hoffmann ist und bleibt für mich ein außergewöhnlicher Schriftsteller, der mich immer wieder aufs Neue überzeugt.
Und welcher Schriftsteller eignet sich dafür besser als E.T.A. Hoffmann? Er ist einer meiner liebsten Schriftsteller was deutsche Klassiker anbelangt und die Epoche der Romantik ist ebenso meine liebste.
Ich habe von ihm bereits "Der goldne Topf" und "Der Sandmann" gelesen und war begeistert von diesen Werken. Und auch "Das Fräulein von Scuderi" hat mich wieder komplett überzeugt.
Es wird in dieser Kriminalnovelle ein sehr realistischer und überzeugender Spannungsbogen geschaffen, der mich nicht mehr losgelassen hat.
E.T.A. Hoffmann ist und bleibt für mich ein außergewöhnlicher Schriftsteller, der mich immer wieder aufs Neue überzeugt.
May 10, 2025
Klassenlektüren, die über 50 Jahre alt sind bzw. einen so unmöglichen Schreibstil haben, gehören verboten. Wer hatte denn bitte grundsätzlich jemals diese dumme Idee dazu? Man kann doch auch 3-5 Seiten Texte super analysieren. Solche Bücher sind einfach totale Zeitverschwendung… und ich glaub, ich hab jz auch nicht das „Du liest zu wenig“ Problem 😏
Displaying 1 - 30 of 233 reviews