Master Flea

Master Flea by E. T. A. Hoffmann is a fantastical narrative that intertwines the mundane with the extraordinary centering on the life of Peregrine Tyss a peculiar man living in Frankfort. Peregrine who is deeply attached to his childhood traditions celebrates Christmas Eve with the same enthusiasm as when he was a child despite being in his mid-thirties. His life takes a bizarre turn when he encounters a mysterious and enchanting woman during one of his Christmas Eve visits to a poor bookbinder's family. This woman who claims to be his Alina brings with her a sense of the supernatural and a request that leaves Peregrine bewildered. She implores him to release a prisoner he supposedly holds a request that confounds him as he has no knowledge of such a captive. The narrative then shifts to the story of a flea-tamer in Frankfort who has trained fleas to perform intricate tricks. This flea-tamer Anton van Leuwenhock is revealed to have a connection to the supernatural as he is believed to be a reincarnation of a historical figure. His life is further complicated by the disappearance of Doertje Elverdink a woman he had kept under his control. The tale weaves together elements of romance mystery and the supernatural exploring themes of identity freedom and the boundaries between reality and illusion.