pickOne of the best books I‘ve read - I don‘t have the ability to summarise the vast range of reasons as to why that is the case. From his amusing third person narration obvious obliviousness to character hypocrisies to the book‘s relevance to today in many ways than you‘d think. I am in awe. I wish I could read it for the first time again.
What do men want from me? Why do they pursue me? Why are they so hard? All I am is a perfectly ordinary actor…
“Perhaps you will be more indulgent in death, poor child, than a hard life allowed you to be…For your destiny was accomplished. The end came fast…you summoned it. If it had been otherwise, perhaps you would have gathered around yourself other youths - even more ignorant and younger than you were - and played being conspiratoes with them.”
“He was a blond Rhinelander. His father, too, had been a blond Rhinelander before the financial worries had turned him gray. And his mother Bella his sister Josy were impeccably blond Rhineland women. ‘I am a blond Rhinelander‘ exulted Hendrik Höfgen..It was in the best spirits that he went to bed.”
“The attempt to hand over the Germa people to fascism could end in the socialist revolution…then everyone would see that the actor Höfgen had hambled with cunning and foresight. But even if the N@zis remained in power, what had he, Höfgen, to fear from them?…he wasn‘t a Jew. The fact above all others-that he was not a Jew- struck Hendrick…as immensely comforting. He wasn‘t a Jew, and so everything could be forgiven in him…” continued on the next 1
About Dora Martin, who was a Jewish actress, moving to the US: “”Nothing will change here where you‘re concerned…You are loved by thousands of people…the theater will stay in business…whatever happens in Germany.”…”Well I wish you all the best, Hendrik…I have nothing to look for here…but things will certainly go well fir you, Hendrik Höfgen-whatever else happens in Germany.”
“[Mephisto] was…stronger even than God the Father, whom …he…treated with a somewhat disdainful courtesy. Had he not good reason to look down on Him a little? [Mephisto] was much wittier…wiser, and…unfortunate…; and…there lay the secret of his greater strength - his great misfortune.” The irony for Höfgen trying to be seen as the strongest AND the morally better person by either covering his past or using his misfortunes depending on the situation
“[M. Larue] enjoyed the acquaintance of the most exclusive and reactionary families of Potsdam, and was also seen in the company of left-wing radical young people, whom he liked to introduce in the houses of bank directors as “my young conmunist comrades.” I like the not-so-subtle effect the houses of bank directors brought here; Mann is good with ironies.
“Where is your intellectual tolerance, Herr Privy Councillor? Where are your democratic principles? We no longer recognise you. You sound like a rub-of-the-mill radical politician and not like a man of superior intellect. There is only one way to counter National Socialism - education. We must exert all our efforts to tame these peple through democracy. We must try to win them over…And besides… the Enemy is on the Left.” Classic.
pick3) The omnipresent third party writing is delightfully tainted by the author‘s own opinions on the main character both through their own description but also through how characters see him, eg Barbara‘s pity, Höfgen being on managers‘ laps to get extra money etc 4) the development of the main character. The themes of self esteem, envy, the parallels between Höfgen on and off stage are so closely aligned that it makes a clear point about himself
pickJust some ramblings: 1) the depictions of the characters in general are spaced out so well that it feels very organic 2) the most fascinating parts of the storyline involves revelation of a trait and/or a memory,eg: Nicoletta‘s efforts into marrying Barbara off. tbc
She believed herself to be surrounded by the ‘people‘s love‘ because two thousand turncoats, freeloaders and snobs made noise in her honor. She believed in all seriousness that God was on her side bevause he had allowed her to accumulate so much jewellery.
pickMy ‘Mann‘ can‘t look past the fact that everyone is ‘a bit too fat‘. I think I get what he‘s doing but it also keeps on catching me off guard. When it is stated so directly with no context.
“…she occasionally pleaded with her husband for Jews in high social positions - yet Jews were still being sent to concentration camps. Lotte was called the Good Angel of the prime minister; yet his cruelty had become no milder since she had gone to work on him.” The Nazis having performative socialites hadn‘t ever crossed my mind; this shows my naivety in how I saw them as so distinct from us, and how distraught I become to see such parallels now.
Clouds of artificial fragrance had been sprayed in every room, as though to prevent people from inhaling another odour: the stale, sweet stenfh of blood, which permeated the entire country.
pickAfter reading Magic mountain written by his father at the beginning of the year, I was scared of starting this one. I thought, I would have the same problems but I was wrong. As Klaus Mann once said, I can't write like my father, I must say, I am happy about that.
It is a very serious subject about what he wrote and in my eyes he did a great job. Without knowing Gründgens but all the other characters are described in such a good manner and ⬇️
Tomorrow we don't need to work in Germany tomorrow, so I can sit on the sofa and try to read one or two hours... I hope my eyes don't have another plan. 😊
So after household, wrapping and wrapping gifts and doing lists for work tomorrow, I finally have some time (bf is playing chess again) to cuddle on the sofa, drinking roast apple tea (finally it's autumn) with my new owlish mug, snacking some Milka cookies and trying to get some reading done. 😊
After waiting so many months to start this one for #litsyclassics , I finally try it. It isn't an easy subject and the chosen bookmark doesn't reflect the reality. It isn't only a book... So let's have a look.
A chilling tale of evil, how it grows and spreads, and makes you contemplate how easy it would be for it all to happen again.
Klaus Mann's protagonist is a 'thinly veiled portrait' of his brother-in-law whose behaviour he truly disliked.
A great read.
I've started my first #summersantagoespostal book. I am hooked.
Thanks @Izai.Amorim 👍😊
I found the book to tag, it's got the correct cover but the wrong title.
Mephisto: (*) | 
