Der Sandmann

This novella tells the story of Nathanael, a young man deeply marked by chilling childhood experiences involving the sinister figure of Coppelius and the myth of the Sandman, who steals children’s eyes.

The story explores themes of mental illness, love, obsession, and the blurring of reality and illusion.

Nathanael’s encounters with the Sandman and other characters, such as the automaton Olimpia, lead to a catastrophic collapse of his grasp on reality.

The novella is a profound reflection on human fears, identity, and the psychological horrors that can result from unresolved childhood traumas.