Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann (1766-1822) was a famous Romantic author whose stories and novellas have been considered masterpieces of the literary fairy tale genre. In the very comedic "Little Zaches Called Fuss," a totally worthless person named Zaches is given a magic spell by a caring fairy that gives him the power to receive credit for all the good qualities of the people around him. Although good-intentioned, the spell has the unintended consequence of ruining other people's lives while Zaches continues his miserable behavior. Lovers, poets, nobility, and professionals are all dismissed as they see their efforts attributed to Zaches, who takes the name of Fuss, receives all the praise, and climbs the social latter.

In "Princess Brimbilla," a seamstress and actor in Rome figure out whether they are in love as they navigate the surreal antics of the Carnival season and the Theater. Magic is everywhere, people are not who they seem, and Hoffmann pushes the conventions of narration to their limit. Together these two works showcase Hoffmann's love of imagination and creative play.