Master Flea

Master Flea, published in 1822, is one of E. T. A. Hoffmann’s most fantastical and eccentric works. Blending satire, surrealism, and the macabre, the novel follows a young man who becomes entangled in a bizarre plot involving a magical flea, Eastern princes, and alchemical experiments. With shifting perspectives and labyrinthine storytelling, Hoffmann critiques bureaucracy, science, and romantic idealism. Master Flea exemplifies Hoffmann’s unique contribution to German Romanticism and his influence on surreal and fantastic literature.