E.T.A. Hoffmann, a lawyer and bureaucrat by profession, is most readily recognized as the author of the fairy tale The Nutuacker, which was adapted by Tchaikovsky for his ballet. Hoffmann was also the author of more than three dozen stories, seven fairy tales, and two novels, as well as numerous critical essays on music.

In E.T.A. Hoffman, James M. McGlathery provides a complete account of Hoffmann's literary works, including deft summaries of the short stories and thorough explications of the fairy tales and novels. McGlathery's biographical treatment of Hoffmann illuminates how the Napoleonic wars shaped the author's career and subsequent literary development.

McGlathery traces other important influences on the developing writer: Hoffmann's acquaintance with several prominent physicians sparked his interest in the emerging field of psychiatric medicine and inspired the psychological elements of his writing. Hoffmann's music criticism is also given due attention and is examined against his fiction. His works reflect the Romantic era in Germany and are early examples of an interest in the subconscious in literature.