Letters of Heinrich and Thomas Mann, 1900-1949Fortunately for us, brothers Heinrich and Thomas Mann remained devoted and eloquent correspondents even while disagreeing passionately on matters literary, political, philosophical, and personal. In their correspondence, set against a shifting backdrop of locations in Europe and America, mundane concerns blend easily with astonishing artistic and critical insights. That these irrepressible siblings were among the giants of twentieth-century letters gives their exchanges unique literary and historical fascination. Beginning in Germany and Italy at the turn of the century, the letters document with disarming immediacy the brothers' views on aesthetics, politics, and the social responsibility of the writer, as well as their mutual jealousy, admiration, rivalry, and loyalty. The devastating rift caused by Thomas's support of Germany during World War I and his brother's utter opposition to the war took many years to mend, but they found their way back to friendship in the 1920s. After Hitler rose to power, both writers ultimately sought refuge in the United States. The letters offer a moving portrayal of their struggle, as novelists and socially engaged intellectuals, to bear witness to the cataclysmic historical changes around them and to their experience of exile, in Europe and then in America. This first complete English translation of their correspondence is a dramatic human dialogue and a major literary event. Fortunately for us, brothers Heinrich and Thomas Mann remained devoted and eloquent correspondents even while disagreeing passionately on matters literary, political, philosophical, and personal. In their correspondence, set against a shifting backdrop of locations in Europe and America, mundane concerns blend easily with astonishing artistic and critical insights. That these irrepressible siblings were among the giants of twentieth-century letters gives their exchanges unique literary and historical fascination. Beginning in Germany and Italy at the turn of the century, the letters document with disarming immediacy the brothers' views on aesthetics, politics, and the social responsibility of the writer, as well as their mutual jealousy, admiration, rivalry, and loyalty. The devastating rift caused by Thomas's support of Germany during World War I and his brother's utter opposition to the war took many years to mend, but they found their way back to friendship in the 1920s. After Hitler rose to power, both writers ultimately sought refuge in the United States. The letters offer a moving portrayal of their struggle, as novelists and socially engaged intellectuals, to bear witness to the cataclysmic historical changes around them and to their experience of exile, in Europe and then in America. This first complete English translation of their correspondence is a dramatic human dialogue and a major literary event. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Academy already appeared April artist August become Berlin Bermann-Fischer birthday bourgeois brother Buddenbrooks Cockaigne critic Dear Heinrich Dear Tommy Deutsche edition Emigrated English Erika Erika Mann essay everything February feel Fiorenza France Frankfurt Franz French German Goethe Golo Golo Mann Goschi Gottfried Bermann Fischer Grautoff Heinrich Mann Hitler honor humanity intellectual Jagd nach Liebe January Joseph July June Katja Klaus Klaus Mann Küsnacht lecture letter of December literary literature Lübeck March Maß und Wert moral Munich neue Rundschau Nice A.M. Nietzsche novel November October once Paris Paul Ehrenberg perhaps play political Prague probably published René Schickele Schaukal Schickele September social Stockholm Stories of Three Tagebuch thanks Theater things Thomas Mann Thomas Mann's letter tion Tonio Kröger trip Verlag Vienna Warm regards Warmly Wilhelm word writer wrote Zeitung Zukunft Zurich