Dark tales for adults, in various frameworks and narratives, but unfortunately often winded, long and finish (settlement and fall) disappointing. They are all built the same way: A primer, fantastic location caused by an event, a meeting, strange, and a second story in the narrative for unwinding and full explanation (but absolutely not useful) Plot . And it is in this second story that the author lost me personally. It's long, much less mature than the beginning of the main story, and it is difficult to finish the story. It would have been so much better to stop before leaving the reader plagued his questions and his imagination ... But we must recognize ETA HOFFMANN enough precursor side of the genre. Indeed, references like Balzac, Buzzati, Ray ... did write that well after him. But in the same time there was some POE ... Now, Hoffmann was not a writer. He was a scientist, composer, illustrator ... Too dispersion?