150 years of Thomas Mann

2025-06-06 15:50:00, Kulturë CNA

The literary world is of one mind: Life and writing were closely intertwined in Thomas Mann (1875-1955). The German author became known worldwide – as the voice of culture and also as a traveler between worlds.

He is known primarily for his rich literary activity with works such as the great novel "Buddenbrooks", for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1929, "The Magic Mountain" or "Dr. Faustus". But Thomas Mann also made a name for himself with his political commitment. He wrote essays and radio speeches. Thomas Mann lived a life in a time of turmoil in world politics, with two world wars, Nazi rule and the Holocaust. Many of these developments are reflected in his work.

From a young age, Thomas Mann attracted attention with his stories, becoming a household name in literary circles. He was only 26 years old when he achieved great success with the novel Buddenbrooks (1901). It was mainly for this novel and his literature that he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1929.

The epochal change in trade and economics in the 19th century is one of the central themes of the novel Buddenbrooks.

Family and departure from Germany
Thomas Mann was the second son of the merchant and senator of Lübeck, Thomas Johann Heinrich Mann. His mother, born in Brazil, Julia (née da Silva Bruhns), was of Portuguese descent through her mother. The Manns had five children: Heinrich, Thomas, Julia, Carla, and Viktor.

Thomas Mann grew up in good conditions in a wealthy family in Lübeck, where his father held the positions of senator for economics and finance in the city until his death.

During the period of the strengthening of the National Socialists, he became a staunch opponent of this system, which forced him to leave Germany, first to Switzerland and from 1934 to the USA.

Thomas Mann died in Zurich in 1955.