When Hoffmann helps Mesmer, or literature as the epistemic site of magnetism

In this article I wish to highlight how literature has served as a crucible for epistemological questions addressed to the theory of animal magnetism, through the example of E.T.A. Hoffmann: the German writer is often considered as one of the authors who built the figure of the evil magnetizer. However, Hoffmann’s works show that the author contributes to reinforcing the aura of scientificity of magnetism by endeavouring to offer a response to the epistemological questions raised at the time, as well as to the divisions among Mesmer’s successors.