THOMAS MANN
1875 - 1955

A German Classic, Thomas was a novelist and received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1929. Here is the presentation speech.

Some time after his father died, Thomas' family moved to Munich.

In Munich, Thomas worked for an insurance company and as editor for the weekly magazine Simplicissimus. The magazine was published from 1871 until 1914.

THE FAMILY OF THOMAS MANN
Thomas' father was Heinrich Mann. His mother was Julia Mann. Thomas had an elder brother, Heinrich Jr., who was a writer as well.

Around 1918, there was some tension between Heinrich and Thomas when both brothers' political opinions went opposite directions. But by 1922 Heinrich and Thomas were buddies again.

THOMAS AND HIS BROTHER HEINRICH IN 1931
Deutsches Historisches Museum Berlin
[+] Click to enlarge.

In 1905, Thomas married Katia Pringsheim. Below you can see Katia waiting for her husband to pick up his honorary citizenship of his home town Lübeck in Germany.

THOMAS AND KATIA MANN 1955
Deutsches Historisches Museum Berlin
[+] Click to enlarge.

Katia and Thomas had six children. Three of them, Erika, Klaus, and Golo, became writers as well.

THOMAS MANN AND THE NAZIS
In 1930, Thomas had the brilliant idea to give a talk in Berlin with the topic An Appeal to Reason. He was basically rallying against the Nazis who in turn weren't thrilled.

While brother Heinrich teamed up with Albert Einstein to collect signatures against the Nazis, Thomas decided to travel Europe and, after Hitler came to power in 1933, not to return to Germany any time soon. The Nazis thought they better make sure and took the German citizenship from Thomas. Czechoslovakia felt sorry and thus Thomas became a citizen of Czechoslovakia.

During WWII, Thomas teamed up with BBC and send some German radio messages to anyone who could tune in at home.

After having been accused to be a Communist in the US, Thomas settled for good in good ol' neutral Switzerland.

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF THOMAS MANN
1875 Birth in Lübeck, Germany
1891 Father dies
1894 Moves to Munich, Germany
1895 Quits his job and decides to be a writer
1896 Travels Italy together with his brother (until 1898)
1898 Editor for Simplicissimus (until 1900)
1900 Briefly military services
1905 Marries Katia
1919 Honorary doctorate - University of Bonn, Germany
1933 Leaves Germany
1936 Czechoslovakian citizen
1938 Moves to Princeton, US
1941 Moves to Pacific Palisades, California
1944 Becomes US citizen
1952 Moves to Erlenbach, Switzerland

THOMAS MANN TRIVIA
You can read Thomas Mann's brief autobiography online and for free.

You are welcome to visit the Thomas Mann Archive in Zurich.

Among Thomas' favorites were German philosopher Shopenhauer, German philosopher Nietzsche, and German composer and professional ogre Wagner.

THOMAS LIKED TO HOLD HIS HAND TO HIS HEAD
Deutsches Historisches Museum Berlin
[+] Click to enlarge.

THE WRITINGS OF THOMAS MANN
1898 - The little Herr Friedemann, a collection of short novels
1901 - Buddenbrooks
1903 - Tristan, a collection. Included was the novella Tonio Kröger
1912 - Death in Venice
1918 - Reflections of an Unpolitical Man
1924 - The Magic Mountain
1930 - Mario and the Magician
1939 - The Beloved Returns
1943 - Joseph and His Brothers
1947 - Doktor Faustus
1951 - The Holy Sinner
1953 - The Black Swan
1954 - The Confessions of Felix Krull, Confidence Man