The Sandman by E. T. A. Hoffmann. Short summary

5 seconds

Nathaniel falls in love with Olympia, but when he discovers that she is just a doll, he loses his mind. Returning from the madhouse, he tries to throw Clara off the roof, but is thrown down himself.

1 minute

Student Nathaniel tells his friend Lothar in a letter about several interesting events: the arrival of the barometer salesman and the tragedy that happened to the lawyer Coppelius as a child (about the failed alchemical experiments with his father that ended in tragedy).

Next, Nathaniel travels to the town of G., where he discovers his burnt-out house. He moves to another apartment, directly across the street from the house of Professor Spalanzani, who invites the young man to a party. There, Nathaniel meets Olympia, the professor’s daughter. The young man falls in love with the girl and after a while goes to her father to ask for Olimpia’s hand, but learns that she is just a doll. The young man goes mad and is hospitalized.

Cured, Nathaniel returns home. After a while he loses his mind again and tries to throw Clara off the roof, but the girl is saved. Nathaniel, seeing Coppelius in the crowd, throws himself down and is crushed to death.