'The Sandman' (1844) was written by the German romantic author E. T. A. Hoffmann, most famous for his novella 'The Nutcracker and the Mouse King' (1816) which inspired Tchaikovsky's 'The Nutcracker'. A tale of madness, deceit and murder. A young man becomes obsessed with the sandman, who steals people's eyes. 'The Sandman', has produced numerous adaptations and has influenced modern horror fiction. It provided the inspiration for Delibes's ballet Coppélia, and formed the basis of Sigmund Freud's important essay, 'The Uncanny'. This classic short story is perfect for fans of horror and fantasy fiction and the authors H. P. Lovecraft and Neil Gaiman.