E.T.A. Hoffmann 
Gambler’s Luck 

'Gambler’s Luck’ (1855) is a 'weird tale’ 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 ballet 'The Nutcracker’.A young German baron enjoys a lucky streak at the gambling tables and becomes addicted. One night, a stranger appears at the gambling table and tells the Baron an incredible tale…This classic short story is perfect for fans of horror and fantasy fiction and the authors H. P. Lovecraft and Neil Gaiman.-