E.T.A. Hoffmann was a German writer, composer, and artist born on January 24, 1776, in Königsberg. He is best known for his contributions to the genre of romantic literature and is often associated with the German Romanticism movement. Hoffmann's works frequently blend fantasy and reality, exploring themes of the supernatural and the uncanny. His most famous story, "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King," inspired the popular ballet by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Hoffmann's influence extends to various art forms, and he is regarded as a precursor to modern fantasy literature, impacting writers like Edgar Allan Poe and Franz Kafka. He passed away on June 25, 1822.