Wednesday, August 14, 2019
Biography of Thomas Mann:
Thomas Mann (1875–1955) was a German novelist and essayist renowned for his contributions to 20th-century literature. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1929.
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| Biography of Thomas Mann |
Here is a brief biography of Thomas Mann:
Early Life of Thomas Mann:
1. Birth: Paul Thomas Mann was born on June 6, 1875, in Lübeck, Germany, into a merchant family.
2. Family Background: He came from a prosperous and intellectually oriented family. His father, Thomas Johann Heinrich Mann, was a senator and a grain merchant.
Education and Early Works:
1. Thomas Mann began his studies in literature, history, and economics at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich but left without completing his degree.
2. His literary career began with the publication of his first short story, "Little Mr. Friedemann," in 1898.
Marriage and Family of Thomas Mann:
1. Mann married Katia Pringsheim in 1905, and they had six children together.
2. His wife's family was part of Munich's intellectual elite, and their home became a center for cultural and intellectual discussions.
Literary Success:
1. Thomas Mann gained widespread recognition with his novel "Buddenbrooks" (1901), which depicts the decline of a wealthy merchant family.
2. "Death in Venice" ("Der Tod in Venedig") (1912) and "The Magic Mountain" ("Der Zauberberg") (1924) are among his other significant works.
Thomas Mann's Nobel Prize in Literature:
1. Mann was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1929, primarily in recognition of his masterpieces, "Buddenbrooks" and "The Magic Mountain."
2. His Nobel Prize citation praised him for "his great work, Buddenbrooks, which has won steadily increased recognition as one of the classic works of contemporary literature."
Emigration:
1. Faced with the rise of the Nazi regime in Germany, Mann, a vocal critic of Hitler, went into exile in 1933.
2. He lived in Switzerland and later in the United States during World War II.
Later Works:
1. Mann continued to write prolifically during his exile. His essays and speeches addressed political and philosophical themes.
2. He became a U.S. citizen in 1944 but returned to Switzerland after the war.
Death of Thomas Mann:
1. Thomas Mann died on August 12, 1955, in Zürich, Switzerland.
2. His final novel, "Confessions of Felix Krull, Confidence Man" ("Bekenntnisse des Hochstaplers Felix Krull"), remained unfinished at the time of his death.
Legacy:
1. Thomas Mann's works are celebrated for their exploration of complex psychological and philosophical themes.
2. His insights into the human condition, combined with his rich prose and intellectual depth, have left a lasting impact on literature.
Thomas Mann's literary legacy has had a profound influence on modern literature, and his writings continue to be studied and appreciated for their depth and complexity.