The Sandman
by E.T.W. HoffmannGenre: Suspense
Setting:
Format of Original Source: Short Story
Recommended Adaptation Length:
Candidate for Adaptation? Promising
EXCERPT:
At last, while they were standing at the altar, the hideous Coppelius appeared, and touched Clara’s lively eyes. They flashed into Nathaniel’s heart, like bleeding sparks, scorching and burning, when Coppelius caught him, and flung him into a flaming, fiery circle, which flew round with the swiftness of the stream, and carried him along with it, amid its roaring. The roar is like that of the hurricane, when it fiercely lashes the foaming waves, which, like black giants with white heads, rise up for the furious combat. But through the wild tumult he hears Clara’s voice: “Can you not, then, see me? Coppelius has deceived you. Those, indeed, were not my eyes, which so burned in your breast–they were glowing drops of your own heart’s blood. I have my eyes still–only look at them!” Nathaniel reflects: “That is Clara, and I am hers for ever!”
COMMENTS:
Nasty and dark. Told in the form of letters. (Note from NMI: You should be aware that a musical adaptation of this story already exists; fairly recently; very visible in the community of new musical theatre.)
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