The Infernal Desire Machines of Doctor Hoffman

Angela Carter

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1986

Book Brief

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Angela Carter

The Infernal Desire Machines of Doctor Hoffman

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1986

Book Details

Pages

221

Format

Novel • Fiction

Genre

Classic Fiction

•

Fantasy

•

Magical Realism

Setting

Europe • 20th century

Topic

Gender & Feminism

•

World History

Publication Year

1986

Audience

Adult

Super Short Summary

In Angela Carter's The Infernal Desire Machines of Doctor Hoffman, an individual named Desiderio navigates a war-torn, surreal world challenged by Doctor Hoffman's reality-altering machines. The narrative explores themes of desire, reality, and identity as Desiderio embarks on a quest influenced by love and resistance against the destabilizing forces reshaping perception and existence.

Fantastical

Mysterious

Dark

Unnerving

Challenging

Reviews & Readership

4.0

4,101 ratings

64%

Loved it

24%

Mixed feelings

13%

Not a fan

Review Roundup

Angela Carter's The Infernal Desire Machines of Doctor Hoffman is celebrated for its imaginative narrative and profound exploration of desire and reality. Critics praise its rich, surreal prose and thematic depth. However, some find its complexity and nonlinear storytelling challenging. The novel remains a unique blend of fantasy and philosophical inquiry.

Who Should Read The Infernal Desire Machines of Doctor Hoffman?

Readers who relish surreal, imaginative narratives with philosophical undertones akin to One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez or Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs will appreciate The Infernal Desire Machines of Doctor Hoffman by Angela Carter for its blend of fantasy, eroticism, and critique of reality.