The Serapion Brethren, Vol. II

"The Serapion Brethren, Vol. II" by E. T. A. Hoffmann is a collection of strange and imaginative stories exploring relationships, the mysterious, and the world beyond what we know. The book tells of the Serapion Brethren, a band of friends bound by their love of storytelling and deep thinking. At the beginning, the friends are separated by life and sickness which causes a sadness, especially for Lothair. He is not happy that they are apart, comparing their friendship to happiness that doesn't last. Ottmar tries to cheer Lothair up by reminding him of how important their shared past is. Later, they make plans to meet again in a pretty garden, where they talk about old stories and how much storytelling means to them. As they reunite, Lothair reads a strange and spooky story about his new interest in dark folklore, setting the stage for even more imaginative stories.