A Close Look at Irony in Les Contes d Hoffmann

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&5.¬&!#4¬Jules Barbier and
Michel Carré based their version of
the tales of Hoffmann on three stories
by E.T.A. Hoffmann, all available
online in English translation. @e
Olympia scene is based on “@e
Sandman” (tinyurl.com/act1olympia);
the Antonia scene on “Councillor
Krespel” (tinyurl.com/act2antonia).
@e Giulietta scene is based on a story
within a story: the tale of “@e Lost
Reflection,” which is part of “A New
Year’s Eve Adventure.” (It can be
downloaded as a pdf at tinyurl.com/
act3giulietta.) Hoffmann’s best-known
story, “@e Nutcracker and the
Mouse King,” forms the basis of
Tchaikovsky’s ballet e Nutcracker.
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