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The Brothers Mann: The Lives of Heinrich & Thomas Mann 1871 - 1950 and 1875 - 1955
Studies the political and artistic rivalry and emotional closeness of Thomas and Heinrich Mann, analyzing the cultural, social, and familial milieu in which the brothers developed and worked.
- GenresBiographyNonfiction
422 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1978
30 people want to read
About the author
Nigel Hamilton
43 books86 followersNigel Hamilton is an award-winning British-born biographer, academic and broadcaster, whose works have been translated into sixteen languages.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 15, 2016
Very Good. Unless you have no interest in Thomas Mann and only enjoy comic books.
May 25, 2025
I do not know why this book got the good reviews it has on its cover. There are lots of details about the relationship between the 2 brothers. Even irrelevant facts are mentioned, and oftentimes left dangling .
Ex.: we are told Thomas Mann married a woman he was completely bewitched by, and for whom he had to prove himself worthy.. then we hear nothing more! And we hear just about nothing about his children. Some of Heinrich's love relationships are described, why the silence about Katje? In the midst of Nazi increasing control and eventual takeover of Germany, his Jewish wife is more than interesting, she is essential!
This biography would have been better if some of the details were either left out, or talked about by the author, even in an aside. Ex.: not too long bwefore Hitler takes over Germany, the brothers go for a "rest cure" to a spa. Whats going on that they do so? If the author has no idea, leave it out!
Lastly, none of the French from their correspondence is translated, not in the text, nor in footnotes, and not in an appendix. Arrgh!
I've been dragging myself through this because I'm bowled over with Thomas Mann's books. I've read The Magic Mountain and Death in Venice. MM takes a very, very long time to get into it; if you're having a hard time, read some literary commentary first, it's makes the pace (languid) understandable.
I know this is harsh, but I would have gotten almost as much from a translation of their complete, translated correspondence. With the meaty ones marked for me.
Not finishing, Joseph and his brothers (2nd translator, Woods) is calling
Ex.: we are told Thomas Mann married a woman he was completely bewitched by, and for whom he had to prove himself worthy.. then we hear nothing more! And we hear just about nothing about his children. Some of Heinrich's love relationships are described, why the silence about Katje? In the midst of Nazi increasing control and eventual takeover of Germany, his Jewish wife is more than interesting, she is essential!
This biography would have been better if some of the details were either left out, or talked about by the author, even in an aside. Ex.: not too long bwefore Hitler takes over Germany, the brothers go for a "rest cure" to a spa. Whats going on that they do so? If the author has no idea, leave it out!
Lastly, none of the French from their correspondence is translated, not in the text, nor in footnotes, and not in an appendix. Arrgh!
I've been dragging myself through this because I'm bowled over with Thomas Mann's books. I've read The Magic Mountain and Death in Venice. MM takes a very, very long time to get into it; if you're having a hard time, read some literary commentary first, it's makes the pace (languid) understandable.
I know this is harsh, but I would have gotten almost as much from a translation of their complete, translated correspondence. With the meaty ones marked for me.
Not finishing, Joseph and his brothers (2nd translator, Woods) is calling
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews