E. T. A. Hoffman wore many hats, among them are those of a playwright, composer, music critic, and more. He wrote this novella, originally titled The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, in 1816, and it is among his most notable works. Hoffman’s influence played a crucial role in the Romantic literary movement in the nineteenth century, and his works have been heavily adapted and analyzed by the likes of notables such as Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Robert Schumann, and Sigmund Freud. Hoffman passed away at the age of forty-six in 1822.
Arkady Roytman graduated with honors from the Savannah College of Art and Design. His science fiction, fantasy, and children’s book illustrations have appeared in numerous magazines and galleries across the country, and he is the author/illustrator of more than twenty books. He resides in Amman, Jordan.