Wallenstein. Sein Leben erzählt von Golo Mann

by Golo Mann

Wallenstein

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, Germany, Military History, European History, German Literature

1296 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1971

About the author

Born Angelus Gottfried Thomas Mann, he was a popular German historian, essayist and writer. He was the third child of the novelist Thomas Mann and his wife Katia Mann.

Reviews

[Jan-Maat]

I remember from this substantial biography of Wallenstein written by Thomas Mann's son Golo how Wallenstein developed a complex of land holdings, themselves rewards for his military service, and a method of managing them to finance the Imperial army that he maintained in the field against the opponents of the Hapsburgs during the Thirty Years War, in this way one sees Wallenstein less as a general and more of a complete military solutions provider, such seventeenth century outsourcing seems oddly contemporary.

Also that he had his horoscope cast by Johannes Kepler(whose astronomical thinking was inspired by his wife's salad). Schiller's Wallenstein's Tod is accurate in reflecting his interest in that science , Kepler did not tell Wallenstein about the end of his life, if this reflects the limits of the science of astrology or his proper desire not to interfere in the course of history I leave it to you to decide for yourself.

[Jessica DeWitt · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not expect a tome like Mann's Wallenstein to be an easy read, but this was quite the challenge. I am rather surprised that it has such high ratings on here. Yet, as a historian one must admire Mann's feat. To be able to pick a topic that you love and write nearly 1,000 pages, leaving no source unmentioned is a historian's dream. It is clear at times that he is just enumerating nearly word for word what a certain "juicy" source has provided him. However, editors exist for a reason. Mann somehow accomplishes the feat of giving too little information and giving far too much information at the same time. He provides the reader little comprehensible background information, leaving one very confused. My numerous undergrad European history courses helped me little, I was completely confused throughout the entire reading and still am. Who was Questenberg? Piccolomini? Arnim? Wallenstein, even? I have no clue. Someone picking up Wallenstein with little knowledge of the Thirty Years War will find this book the opposite of helpful. I can see Mann's Wallenstein being a classic piece of literature for the learned Europeanist, though. The English version is not helped by the translation. Although Mann states in the intro that anything lost in translation is his fault and not that of the translator, I have to say that the translation is fairly atrocious. Most sentences are awkward, many not grammatically correct, making the slog through this book even more difficult. At times Mann's unique style of writing/personality do shine through, suggesting that the German version is more enjoyable. In conclusion, if you want a challenge, go for it, but make sure you've brushed up on your 30 Years War and Wallenstein history beforehand. 883 pages are behind me...excuse me while I look up who this Wallenstein guy is on Wikipedia.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phew. Finishing this book feels not unlike finishing a marathon. It wasn’t an easy read, and I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this book, but I do feel it was well worth the effort.
It’s a very detailed biography (and with detailed I mean that you have to keep track of a whole lot of people and their allegiances) that still leaves something of a negative space around the personality and character of its subject. The strength of this book lies in that detail and in the portrayal of that time - the thirty years war was a blank spot for me previously, and I think that blank spot is blank no more.
I wouldn’t say I enjoyed Golo Mann’s style - it does feel overly complicated a lot of the time. But there is something about his catty tone which made it occasionally fun to read. Overall it was more work that fun, but as I said, worth it for me.

[Wilhelm Weber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellente Meisterleistung. Sehr empfehlenswert. Durchdacht, prägnant geschrieben. Den Faden nimmer verlierend, obwohl es wirklich ein dickes Knäul und äußerst verwickelt ist. Psychologisch tiefsinnig. Geschichtlich imposant. Menschlich bewegend. Biographisch mitreißend und überzeugend. Pflichtlektüre für jeden Politiker und Theologen sowieso. Solch einen beredeten Anwalt wünscht man sich!

[Dirk Baranek · Rating 4 out of 5]

30-jähriger Krieg, die größte Katastrophe der Neuzeit vor den Weltkriegen. Aber was ist da eigentlich genau passiert, wer sind die Protagonisten? Das kann man diesem Band entnehmen, der wie der Titel schon ausweist um die Person des katholisch-kaiserlichen Heerführers kreist. Ich hatte eine spekulativ-psychologische Helden-Biographie erwartet, aber ganz so schlimm ist es nicht. Mann hat tausende Briefe ausgewertet und bewegt sich in den Bahnen seriöser Geschichtswissenschaft. Gleichzeitig ist das sprachlich ein ziemlicher Stein, auch wenn es etwas antiquiert wirkt. Das ist angesichts des Themas aber auch nicht weiter schlimm. Ganz ohne historische Vorkenntnisse wird es aber nicht gehen. Jedenfalls wird man in diese Wirren eingeführt, die ganz Europa auf deutschem Boden involvierten, in einer Zeit, in der der Raum für derartige Kriegszüge ein unglaublich riesiger war. Nicht immer sachlich, weil gerne auch mal polemisch geschrieben, schlau analysiert, kenntnisreich - sicher ein früher Meilenstein der literarisch inspirierten Geschichtsschreibung.

[Robert Hinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is was not the book I was looking for but I’m glad I got through it. It is a straight biography of the man with very little information regarding his military accomplishments but a great deal of information about the political situation around the cause and reasons if the 30 Years War. The translation did not include footnotes, which I found disappointing.

[V. Péter · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can one expect from the son of Thomas Mann? Quite a lot, as this book proves. As a student of history, I consider it a benchmark for my own work and writing style. Golo Mann’s prose—rhythmic even in translation—pulls the reader into a vast ocean of information, yet never sacrifices clarity or scholarly precision.
Mann achieves something rare: he blends narrative elegance with meticulous research, creating a biography that illuminates not only General Wallenstein but the entire world of the early 17th century. Through his pages we encounter the political, cultural, and spiritual atmosphere of the Habsburg Monarchy with remarkable vividness.
It is a lengthy and demanding book, and it does not guide the reader gently. A strong foundation in 16th- and 17th-century European history, especially the history and zeitgeist of the Habsburg realms, is essential. But the effort is deeply rewarding. The depth, rigor, and literary quality make this biography an extraordinary achievement—one that sets a standard for what historical writing can be.
All in all, this is a must-read for anyone who wants to study the Thirty Years War, and it also serves as an excellent secondary source on the history of the Habsburg Monarchy.

[Legens · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a book. 1,400 pages (including the scholarly apparatus) which provide not only a biography, but also a panorama on European politics in the early 16th century. More than quantity, quality sets this book apart: Mann's literary style makes this scholarly tome read like a novel, albeit one with an overdose of mannerisms by its author.
Mann approaches Wallenstein holistically - fitting for a man who tried to bridge chasms and bring everything together, Protestantism and Catholicism, being a prince of the Empire and advancing the emperor's absolutist agenda, not to mention Wallenstein's one-stop shop of war business - supplies, taxation, manpower, battle.
Finally, be ready for a lot of judgment on all characters (major and minor)!
Verdict: Catty and chatty, this book is worth your time. But do bring a lot of time.

[Peter Jakobs · Rating 4 out of 5]

1140 pages on Wallenstein's life prior and the 30-years war in Germany. Almost written like a novel by Golo Mann, member of the famos Mann writer family.

[Christoph Sachse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read the German version. A fantastic portrait of the man and many other actors and the times and mind set of the 30 years war.

[Christian Doebel · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful story of intrigues and betray