«Death in Venice» and Other Stories

Thomas Mann was a German novelist, short-story writer, essayist, and Nobel Prize laureate. He lived and worked during a tumultuous period in history, marked by the discovery of cures for once-fatal diseases and the outbreak of world wars. Death in Venice and Other Stories is a classic work of literature that remains relevant today, a must-read for anyone interested in human nature, the beauty and tragedy of life. The book contains four novellas translated by H.T. Lowe-Porter: «Death in Venice», «Tonio Kröger», «Tristan», and «Mario and the Magician».
«Death in Venice», the most famous novella in the collection, tells the story of a writer who falls in love with a young boy. The story is set against the backdrop of a cholera outbreak in Venice. The novella has been adapted into film several times, most notably in 1971 by Luchino Visconti. «Tristan» is a novella about a young man who is in love with a married woman. Their relationship is passionate but ultimately tragic. «Tonio Kröger» is the story of a writer who is torn between his German heritage and his fascination with Italian culture. «Mario and the Magician» is a satirical novella about an Italian magician who uses his power to exploit people.