mann, thomas - story of a novel (knopf, 1961)

8/17/2019 Mann, Thomas - Story of a Novel (Knopf, 1961)

1/252


2/252

tr y Nvl


3/252


4/252

THOMAS MANN

The Stor ofa NovelThe Genesis of

DOCTOR FAUSTS

D BY

Rcha an Ca Wnsn

19 . 61

R E D K N O · N E W Y O R K


5/252

L C. catalog cad number: 61074

s s a BRZ BK pulsed ALFD A NPF C

Copg © Alfed A Knopf n All gs esevedNo pa of s oo a e epodued n an fo ou

pesson n ng fo e pule exep a eve

o a quoe ef passages n a eve o e pned a

agane o nespape Manufaued n e Uned aes of

Aea Puled sulaneousl n Canada MClelland

Sea d

FRS AMCA

Oiiay pbishe in G as De nseun Des Doo

ausus Copyigh 99 by Bm-F V, Asm


6/252

e me o paon every ork o any od

and pon own fe and aomp on ee Hen

I ave never en fond of emenng any of mne w

preae or porp nor ave I oered any apooge o

e r. Neveree e more wo ecede no e

pa e more neeve ey eome n meare o er

eevene a e momen. Indeed ey are e e e

eemed e more ey ave eowed on e ony'

re a moer are o eay overadowed a evy o

eaf daer Terefore mee and ng o n

or em er ora vae y dng er orgn

men o nderandng and good

GOETHE Pery and r


7/252


8/252

r y vl


9/252


10/252

T

M

ARY ETRIES or 5 how me hat on December that year the Lo Angee corepondent o m caed

n me t an hour drve rom downtown Lo Angee or country home) e came to chaenge me concernng

rophecy had mde teen year beore the whch wa

ng to be ued At the end o Sketch y e


11/252

HO M A S M A NN

4ren n 1 9 3 and avalable also n Englsh I had hhalsporve bele n ceran symmeres and numercal co

respodcs n my le venured he guess ha ould passrom hs orld n 1945 a he age o seveny as had mymoher The oreold year he man sad as vrually over

and I hd no kep my ord ha dd I an o say o he

publc o ecuse mysel or sl beng alvey rply dd no please my e a allhe less so snce

her anous hear had or a consderble me been concerned

abou my healh She red o sop me o proes o unsayhe hngs hch I as pemng an nerveer o dra

rom me and hch had prevously kep even rom heThe llmn o propheces sad as a curous busness

Oen y dd no come rue lerally bu suggesvely

Fullmn mgh be a b de o he mark open o queson

and umsale Ceran acors mgh be subsue

or ohr cors. To be sure I conceded n spe o my

dsre or maers o ork ou n n orderly ashon I asno ye dead Bu my vsor should kno ha n he year Ihad se or my le hadbologclly speakngreached

a lo such as had never knon beore I hoped ha myval orces ould help me clmb ou o hs abyss Bu mypresen condon seemed o me ully o bear ou my pro

phec gs and I ould be glad he and hs eseemej ournal ould also consder ood enough


12/252

e Sy a Nve

5hen I poke n thee term three month were yet to

a beore the boogca ow to whch I had reerredreached etremty: a erou phyca cr whch orcedupon me a urgca operaton or month prevented me

rom workng and teted my conttuton n a way I hadscarcey magned pobe. menton th however because

the eperence caued me once more to note the cuosdvergence between boogca and nteectua vtay

Perod o phyca webeng and boomng heath, when

the body gve one no troube at a and one te m

re not at a neceary perod o outtandng cretty.

wrote the bet chapter o The Beve Retun durng amonth bout wth nectou catca ever have I en

ured uch wd pant cannot be decrbed to thoe who

ve not had the deae To ecape thee agonzng twnge

you vany eek the rght poton day and nght There nght poton Ater nght whch may God keep me rom

ver havng to ve agan breakat uuay brought a certan

spte to my burnng named nerve and then ttng at

y dek at one trange ange or another I woud pero

e un mystca wth Goethe the tar o ubme beauty and a catca not a deae that reache deep nt

vta Depte a t torure t not an ne to be

en very erouy On the other hand the tme o whch Im peakn and or whch I had propheed my death wa


13/252

H O M A M A N N

6a erio o rea ecine in a m via orce akabe

bioogica reucion Ye hi wa he io in

which a work germinae which rom he mn o iincepion ha ha an unuua arreaching power

There wou be omehing ocrinaire ao eeing a

inkng o ia a he caue an preconiion or a crea

ive eor ha aborb ino ie he u o an enire eha ha unwiing ha conciou nhize an

une a man enire ie an hereore embo he via

charge whch he hica e i no onger capabe o I

wou be eaer o urn he expanaion aroun an o bame

m ine on he wor For inee ike no oher o mbook hi one conume an ook heav o o m inner-

mo orce. Wemeaning inimae i ake he reaion

hi in ha gh an when he aw me ookng o run

own were ap o commen: I i he boo An i I noa e? There i a nobe aing ha he who gve hi ie

ha ae ia aing a apicabe o he ream o ar an

ieraure a o reigon. I i never rom ack o ia ha

uch an oerng o one e i mae an r no uch

ack i hown whenrange cae ineea en aman wrie h wie book Nor wa here an gn o

ha in he ag wih which I roe up rom h operaion

marke wih a car rom che o back a o he amuemeno he ocor ruhe home o nih ha book


14/252

e Sy f a Nve

u I wan o e he or oausus embee a i i nhe reure an umu o ouwar even wan o r o

reconruc ha or on he bai o m brie ai noe

or me an or m rien

In November 194 a ourne o he a ea he compeion o seph he vide, which I ha oug o brig

o a cocuion urig he receig week ami he huner o he bae or burning Saigra On hi j ore Iook wih me he manucri o a ecure o he nearnihe eraog The exeiion e hrough Chicago oahingon an New York an wa rich i ecouer

ubic meeig a aearance Amog ohe hig Ioce again aw Princeon an he rien beonging o ha

rio o m ie when I ive here Frank Aoeinein Chriian Gau een owePorer a Ra-

e o he awrecevie Schoo a hi circe rich vonher erman roch an oher The a i Chcago

a been overhaowe b new o he war in Norh

ica erurbing accoun o he march o Germa roorough unoccuie France Pain roe he ranhi


15/252

HOA A

men of he iler or o n he Ialan occaon o

orca he recaure of obruk We rea of feverh

efenive meaure b he German a all robable invaonon of ign ha he French ee wa rearng o o

over o he e of he Alle

he igh of Wahingon on a war fooing wa new an

remarkable o me. A gue once more of ugene eer anh beauiful wfe n heir alaial home on recen Place I

gae in aonihmen a he heavl miliarize iric

aroun he ncoln emorial wih barrack oce

builing an brige an a he rain lan wih war

maerial ha nceanl rolle ino he ci. wa oreivel ho a belae Inan ummer A a inner n m

ho houe a whch he Brailian an ech ambaaorwere reen wih heir wve he icuion urne o

Amercan collaboraion wh Darlan an he roblem ofeeienc Onon were ivie I i no conceal m

iae for i Afer inner we hear he rio are of

Wenll illke who ha u reurne from hi One

orl our ommuniu on he imoran naval vicor

o he Solomon cheere he gaherng.To m eligh he lecure arrange a he ibrar of

ongre brough me ogeher once more wih Archbalaceih hen ll braran of ongre an h wife. An

I regare a a ecial honor ha Vce reien Wallace


16/252

e ry a Nve

9rouce b acLeih in hi urn ai an inroucor

or or me Aer uch a reue he reaing ie me

ih a more han rien reone ex wa coore

mewha b curren even an he oupeaker ran

mie m wor o a econ coe packe ha

The evening wa concue wih a recepion abounin

peronaiie a he eer houe There I ake chieih men in whom I pace much conence who heigh poiion in he Rooeve aminiraion Waace an

orne Genera Franci ie The aer peaan wifei man kin hing o me abou m ecure ie wih

hom I ha correpone abou he rericion impoeuon enem aien" paricuar he Grman exie o

e o hi inenion o remove hee imiaion ver oon

rom him I ao earne ha Rooevewhoe reaion

ih he Vich Rgime were arouing oub an iquiei oher beie mewa a an rae emaning he

eae o he aniFaci an Jew he in Norh Arica

I wa graeu o our hoe Agne eero acive inirar poiica an ocia circe, an m parone hee

a earor arrangin a meing wih he Swi amba-or Dr ruggmann an hi wie a ier o enr

aace Thi converaion wih he ineigen an warmare rereenaive o he counr ha ha en u iroecion or ve ear wa boh eaurabe an imoran


17/252

HOA A

o me The ubec o our ak wa o coure he ark ae

o Germany i hopeene now ha he poibiliy o

capiuaion eeme o be cu o Dr ruggmann waconvince ha he Ruian woul oon be pouring ino

Germany

ven more imporan o me wa he perona meeing

wih aim ivinov Our ho ha invie him an hicharming rih wie o lunch The laer eremey

prighly ocially gie an uck o ongue omnae

he converaion a abe. Aerwar owever I ha heopporuniy o epre o he ambaaor my amiraon or

hi polical aue an acviy beore he war hipeche in he eague o Naion an hi inience on heiniviibiliy o peace. e ha been he ony one I ai who

ha conenly calle hing by hei righ name an given

ruh he oounorunaely in vain e hane me

wih ome melancholy i moo eeme o me rahermoroe an bierwhich wa probably ue no only o he

errible ria acice an uering which he war wa

impoing upon hi counry. y impreion wa ha hi

miion a meiaor beween a an We wa being maea har a poible or him by hi governmen an ha in

ee he wa no likely o remain or long a hi ambaaor

o in WahingonIn hour ree o ocia obigaion I rie o puh orwar


18/252

e Sry a Nve

o he curre chaer o Jsp t alrea oe

o he las he chaer o he blessig o he sos Bu wha

srikes me a imresses me as somehig mserious is heki o reaig ha I i o his ri urig rai oures

eveig hours a brie ress Corar o m usual habio lecure ours i bore o relaio o m rese occua-

io or o he ex work I ha i view. Isea I rea hememoirs o Igor Sravisksuie wh he ecil

ha is o sa makig uerliigs or rreaig I also rea

wo books log amilar o me Ntzscs Zusmmruc

Ntzscs llaps) b rich Frierich Poach a ou

AreasSalom's recollecios o Niesche which I lke-wise we hrough makig ec marks Faeul msi

cism uaroable oe arousig i The uoru

ae Tha is he iar oig aroos his raig usic

he a Niezsche I woul o be able o exlai wh mhoughs a eress were uig i his aricular irec

io a ha me

I our New York hoel oe a he age Armi Robi

so calle uo us o rese mos emigl a la or

book o be ublishe o ol i glish bu also i our orve oher laguages; i was o bear he ile T

madmts The roec was o have a moral a oleic

sla. Te worlamous wriers were o coribue o i

ach reaig oe o he commames a ellig he ale


19/252

HOA A

2

o ome crmina breach o he mora aw The were oer

ng me a ee o one houan oar or a hor ea

nroucing he whoe hing Traveing one i more recepve o uch commiion han a home I agree an wo

a aer n he oce o a awerwhere I me Sigr

Une who ha ikewie agree o paricipaeI igne a

conrac u o pia an barbe hoo I ha carcera he ocumen an n I hane over o he enrepre-

neur he eerna righ o a work which i no e exi o

whoe eveopmen I ha no concepion an whch I wa

eine o ake ar more eriou han he occaion e

mane I i ooh o bu a pg n a poke evenmore ooih o e one n ha manner

The hockng war new ha he commaner an crew

o he French ee ha unk heir hip oue Touon

came n he mi o our a e wh going o concer

an o he heaer wih nvaon an meeing wih

ren a n whch man bi o occaiona wriing ha

ao o be ahe o The uua uie page o m noe

book which I i ha rom Swzeran were now

prnke wh name The Waer an Were a Reinhar he acor Karwei arin Gumper he pubiher

Lanho Friz von Unruh gure in i; ao charmingo Annee Kob rich von Kaher o Shenone our

riih ren rom Prnceon an American coeague o


20/252

The S Nve

he ouger geerao uch a Ge wa Weco Chare

Neier a Chrioher Lazare I aiio here were our

chire We e Thakgiig Da wih Souh Americague a Are Ko cour houe i Purchae

ih he Germaeakg grou we ha arou rea-

ig rom work i rogre; Kaher rea ome erme

mrie ecio rom hi ieecua hior o heuma race which wa o be ubihe uer he ie o

Man th Maur I me oce more roe ou he grae

u aucaio chaer rom Jph th Prdr ao he

cu a recogiio ce a receie he rie a

courageme which i boh he rwar a he aim och reaig o reae urere aage rom he

ork oe ruggig wh Wha ha bee careu orge

he coure o og morig oure ou oer he

ieer i a rai hour o reag he uo o imroiaio o oihe eemorzaio eie he imreo whe oher are rre o mare we or our ar

iee ha eerhng e

e reure home beore he mie o December a he wa hrough Sa Fracco where we ie wo o


21/252

HOA A

4

he chren our ounges son he muscan an hs re

Swss we an where once more I was charme b he

skbue ees o m aore granson e Fro anuer enchanng ch I mmeae resume work onhe bessng chaer. Aer concung hs a I ha e

was o escre acobs eah an bura an The Grea

Progress rom g o Canaan The ear 194 was on aew as o when I se own he as nes o he ourhJoseh noe an herewh brough he whoe work o s

en. I was a curous a or me ha ourh o Januar buceran no one marke b hgh srs Ths grea narra

e wo whch ha accomane me hrough a heseears o ee nsurng me he un o m e was onewas nshe wh an I was unburenea sae o oub

u weghessness or one who snce hs ear as snce he

as o Buddbrs has e uner muarous burens

ha ha o be carre ong sances an who scarce

knows how o e whou hem.

Anono orgese an hs we our Esabeh were wh

us an ha same eenng I re h wo na chaers o

he am crce The messon was cmog We rankchamagne. runo Frank norme o h n o he a

eehone o congauae me hs oc bra wh ee

ng. Wh I shou hae been suerng sorrowu ee

erurbe an wear urng he ne ew as s somehng


22/252

The Str Nvel

5

known on o Go o whoe knowegeeven abou

imefwe mu conign o much Perhap he prevaiing

orri wn ike a Swi fhn conribue o m ae ao

he new of he iioic cue of he Ni who in pie of

Sweih inervenion were going o epor he eigh

hreeearo wiow of a iebermann o Poan She

ook poion inea A he ame ime Ruian corwere avancing upon Roov he euion of he German

from he Caucau wa near compee an in a rong

conen peech o he new Congre Rooeve announcehe invaion of urope

e o work giving ie o he chaper of h fourhvoume an iviing i ino even rincipa ar or book

eanwhie rea uch hing a Goehe ea Ial n th

Dt Freu Mo Erich Auerbach' Wt und Glob

t Land (Dt and Pomd Land) an ao ppe inohe Penaeuch I ha ong been aking mef wh I hou

conribue on an eaiic forewor o he book of orie

iinguihe wrierwh no raher an organ pre

e a Werfe aer u i? Wh no a ae of he iuance

f he Commanmen a Sina novea? Tha eeme vernaura o me a a oue o he Joeph or; I wa warm from he epic. Noe an rearaion for hi work

quire on a few a One morning I eivere m raio

oaca on he enh ear of Nazi rue an he nex


23/252

HOA A

6mornng I began wriing he oe or I wa area in

he eevenh chaer when on Februar 1 i haene

ao o be our weing annverarhere rew roun forhe enh me he a we ha ef unich wih can

baggage wihou uecing ha we wou no reurn

In no uie wo monha hor an for me wih

wa of working wroe he or own amo wihoucorrecion In conra o he uaicienic circuma-

iai of he Joh hi one wa wif ace from

ar Durng he wriing or erha even before I ha

given i he ie of Da Gt Th Law) b which I wa

referring no on o he Decaogue bu ao o he moraaw in genera man civiiaion I wa a ubjec I wa

eriou abou for a ha I reae he egenar maeria

eing an mae ue of Voairean mocker for he

characeriaionagain in conra o heJoh

orierobab uner he unconciou inuence of eine or

rai of oe I i no give m hero he feaure of

icheangeo oe bu of icheangeo hmef in orer

o eic hm a an ar oiing aboriou over refracory

human raw maeria an uering iiing efea hecure a he en again he reena wreche o whom

ower wa given o rofane hi work he abe of he

Law came from m hear an a ea a he en eave no bshed as bls Lw


24/252

e Sor of Novel

oub o he mian nen o h oherwe omewha

roou hng

The mornng aer compeng h or I ceare awa

a he mhoogca an Orena maera ha ha accumuae n he coure o he pcure ecerp

ra The u wa a packe awa The book I ha

rea or he purpoe remane on her hee a ebrar n e An on one a aerarch 5 o beacm eenng noe conane he cur ong Dr

au T r menon an n on he bree o

rerence ookng hrough o paper or maera on

r Fau Wha paper? I can har a Bu he noaon whch occur agan he oowng a connce

wh r o Proeor Gua Ar o he Uner o

Caorna n o Angee an o aceh n Wahngon

ng or an eene oan o he Fau chapbook anheer o ugo \o The combnaon ugge ha I ha

og been purung a raher ene oune o an ea whch

he oher han wa ao erem nebuou Apparen

h heme wa o be ome emonc nocaon an

eang bu caarophc eeche che characer o an ar o a unpece or bu een a comcae creaure Gong hrough o noe n he morn

I hae own or he h Dug up he hreenene o he Dr Fau o . Aocaon wh he Tono


25/252

T H O M A S M A N N

8

Krger pero he unich a, he neverreaize pan

for The Loer an Maya O ove, o frenhp rie

aong wh hee. Shame an rong enmenai a re-membrance of hee ouhfu orrow .

Forwo ear ha pae nce I ha e own ome-

hng abou an ar pac wih he ev a a poibe ubjec

for a piece of wrng, an he eekng an nng of heenoe wa accompane b a egree of emoion, no o a

inner umu which mae one hing ver cear o me ha

he meager an vague nuceu ha been urroune from he

beginnng b a be of perona concern, a eni of bo-

graphca feeing, whch from he r ene he onghor or for a novehough h wa far from m mn.

I wa a h inner rrng which caue me o epan m

uua aconic ar noe ino monoogue: On now o

I reaze wha mean o be whou heJoeh

work, heak which awa oo beie me before me, a hroughhi cae On now ha The Law po nhe o

I become concou of he nov an pr of he iuaion

I wa comforabe working awa on wha I ha area

rege up Do I have rengh for new concepionave I no ue u m ubjec maer An f nwi I

be abe o ummon up he eire for work? oom

weaher ran, co Wh a heaache, I rew up oune

an noe for he novea o o Angee for he concer;


26/252

e Stor of Nove

9 Sinberg box wih hi lie orowiz ple he

B mor Pno Concero o Brhm, he orcher i

he Don Juan oerure n Tchikok Pahqu.

In complince wih mn reue, he phre woul once

he been Ye i i hi melnchol be he highe he

coul rie o n hre i lw omehing beuiul n

moing in eeig limie len reching, b who knowwh e o circumnce he pek o biliie I re

membere, oo, how Srink er go in rich, con

ee o me h he mire Tchikok I h ke him

bou i) ih he conucor in he green room

Re wih muemen orie in he Ga Romaorumlikewie Nzc und d Fraun (Nzch' Womn)

b ell Wlr Brnn, n Seenon miece,

r. Jkyl and Mr Hyd wih m hough n he

u ubecwhich, howeer i r rom king heAlhough he hologicl pec coul be hie io herelm o ble coul be like wih mholog h whole

hing h omehing orbiing bou i h iculi

em iuerbl, n i i poible h I hrink rom he

nrking becue I h lw regre i m l"Reing h oer I know h he uppoiion w righ

< igh bou he linege o he brel enble ie whoeng roo rech r own no m lien righ h in lie pln which w lw pln o work I h rom


27/252

THO M A M A NN

he sar ke he reamen o his iea or he en To

myl I ha calle his work, which migh some ay have

o e one my Parsial Srange hough i seem ha awok ol age shoul be lace on he agena in youhi was is likely ha here is a connecion beween hs

an my conscious inees, eresse in many criical

esy in he lae woks o ariss al isel, he secnar o Faut he las works o Ibsen he ose o Aalbe

Sier an Theoor Fonane in he laer years o heir lies

The quesion was wheher he hour ha come o his

ask so long ago hough so imly sighe Clearly, I l

cerain insincive scrules, reinoce by he remoniionha hre was somehing uncanny abou his subjc an

ha i woul cs hears bloo, a grea eal o i, o whi i

ino shae Ae o his was a vague noion o how raica

is emans woul be, how everyhing in i woul have obe crie o eremes This whole hing coul be comis in he cry e me ry somehing else rs The

somehing else, which ha he meri o uing o he ohe

roec or a goo ong ime, was o ick u an comlee

he ragmnary novel ha lai asie beor he FirsWor War, he Cofo of Flx Kull, Condc

Man

K. ha is my wie seaks o nishing he Kul,

which iens have oen eiione or The ia is no


28/252

Te Str f Nvel

2

ogehe ien o me b h coniee he boo whching m eio when he ibougoi obem

w m mo ominn concen uennu n ou-moe b he Jo Nevehee eng n ening o

muc ngh w cou ie b he hough o

euming chie om he oin o viw o e uni.

Ae hiwo he wou e omhng inigungou ng u gin whee e o beoe Dth n

Vnc o whoe e ineue he Kl w

men h m mjo n incien wo h bn n

neoion occuing whoe gneion ino h un

ing h he hiixo h been ngg onAo he vnge o buing on n o ounon"

Wh hi cme o w Le me omhng

" An e he hon w in m h he n f

cuioi bou he new n ngeou Th weiveion uing he nex w h o wie m

ccion iec boc o Gemn n On L

Axei Tooi conbion o RuinAmicn

chnge. Then cme hoc he uen h o enich

mme he bn noog n hn o Chinmnnh; h wn he mei o Th Tan

d Had om hi ge boo on nin mhoog.

m New Yo cme new o conemovmen e b

fz iin n ohe o ouenhove cii


29/252


30/252

Stoy of a Novl

2 3

assive a ssemaic bombigs of iers coie A

vaces of he Russias i he Crimea Sigs of immie

ivasio of urope A Bruo a iesl Frak's i

evr ls for ier e rea his Nazi sor o he

ourh Commame xcellel oe Some wors i

coece abou he pla for Faus "

Wha was hawas I alrea aoucig his pla ofie o o fries uclear hough I was i m ow mi

cocerig form plo maer of preseaio eve ime

place? ow exacl ha I pu i? I a case his washe rs ime ha I opee m mouh abou i excep for

cosulaios wih m wife who favore he ew plaher ha he resumpio of he ol oe Icieall I

was o feelig well A hroa a brochial caarrh wasivig me rouble i spie o he clear warm weaher a I

ou mself ver ull i spiri" usure of mself assimisic abou m fuure creaivi A e I ha ol

cel oe higs lke ama, Annuncaon a he

co half of he oses Dippig io books o

ezsche ove b a leer of Rohe cocerig him A

h Mu h omca b E T A oma I Bekkersor of music o plafuless i he ar of a gaie

he sese of beig beo es a earesess he suruig of reali"

Oe a i spie of everhig I se abou uig he


31/252

THO N

24bune o maeria on he Codc Ma an rereaing

he preiminar iewih a reu ha wa paing

range I wa inigh ino he inner kinhip o he Fauubjec wih hi one he moi o oneine, in he onecae mic an ragic, in he oher humorou an roguih)

neverhee m eeing i ha he Fau, i I am capabe o

haping i, i more approriae or me oa, more opicamore urgen " The baance ha been wung The

osh buine wa no o be oowe b a preiminar

omehing ee in he om o m nove abou a rogue The

raica eriou, menacing ubjec aroun which he igh

ning o grave acrce eeme o ah, ha prove heronger in i eman an in i romie eaven gran

ha i wou rove oibe o e i parake a ie o

ariic paune an e, iron, rave higher humor

noe o he nex evera week no onger ea wih

anhing ee I wa buring me in hi new e, reco

ecing an ummoning u maeria, accumuaing ieigh,

in orer o creae a bo or he hovering haow

On German urban ie in uher region Ao meica

an heoogica reaing Groping, aemp, an a enaiveeeing o greaer ecuri in he amophere o he ubec

ake he mounain roa wih K A a reaing uhereer ook u Uch vo Hu b D F Srau

Decie o u book on muic Finihe ekker hior


32/252

Sor of a No

2 5

wih greae aevee Nohig e ha bee oe

abou ag he book wih characer ig i ou wih

meaigu ubiiar gure I Th Mac Mountan hee

were roie b he eroe o he aaorium i Joh

b he ibe here i wa a ueio o reaizig he oe-

iaiie o he ibica gure I Krull he wor cou

ermiib have bee haamagorica. I ma be o hereoo o a cerai exe bu here much uboie reai i

eee a or ha here i a eciec o cocree ober

vaio . The characer wi have o be uie ou o

he a ou o memor icure iuiio u he eou

rage mu r be ivee a xe I wroe o Proeor Pau Tiich o he Uio Theoogi

ca Semiar o ak abou he roceure o uig or

he miir Curiou eough here came amo imu-

aeou a eer rom erma icher ramiig aSweih rooa ha I wrie a book o Germa, i aa uure I oe cou o o everhig. u he

ema o he era which emo he oice o eoe or

i uroea boom we mee hem bu ire rom

he wa ake Si a a a eer rom he Oce o Warormaio wa ao receive a hi ime hakig meor he arice o Germa uure which ha me wih

much arova i Swee. I o oger have a iea wha

ice i reerre o


33/252

HOA ANN

6ae erac o Lamenaion o Fau an mocker o

he piri inene a a mphon Noe excerp mei

aion an calculaion on ime euence. Luher leerDrer picure rne Newman Huo Wolf in nglih

Though on he w he ubec wa ienie wih hing

German wih German oliue in he wor in genera

Smbolic vaue here Reaing o he Wch Hamm Deail o ouh in unich Figure o Ru Schwer

eger vioini in he apener orchera )

Drawing up a li o characer or he novel an heir

name acal and h Mdval Dnon of God b

Nize ."Ami uch urve an uie he monh o a 94 3

began a monh in which he enere mo elicae impreion an eeling were couple wih a riving eing

invening whch ha area become he ominan acor inm ie an which arrogae or i own purpoe all ha

reali brough m wa. The chilren rom San Francico

came or a ongih vii wih he wo bo who look ne

an rong ove a awa b Fri beauiu ee

Wen walking wih him beore inner e ae wih u . uch eing wih he lie elow who i u beginning oak" Tuea a 4: In he aernoon on he promenaewih ile Frioin When he walk i over he a Nu

Thi or Nepomuk Schneiewein vening reaing he


34/252

e Sor of a Novel

2

all Malcarum Fro ver che o me

Afer he wlk unch wh hm n he ramr; he

cl w ver well behve

A ler o Bruo \ler n New York w wren ou

h me no whou connecon wh he ubjecha

o wh he kech of he novel an ncenall fu

of ore n ncoe abou he chrmng chl n replWler epree rm nere n he pn for a mucnnovel ng h few were o calle o I e alo

me wh referre o know no wh wha feelng

a rmrkble uggeon nmel h ro houl

la pr n he bookhe coul mgne he epoe he n allro modrao. Th er fren n pen

mucan h no noon of he col breh of nhumanha blow hrough he book a he en. e cou no know

woul be conrne o ell he or of he chl ofo n que anoher pr from ha of allgro modrao

A zable ple of noe ha accumulae efng o hecomple of he plan I foun I ha ome wo hunre

lfquaro hee: a wl mele of orere boen

e from mn ellnguc geogrphc polco-cl heologcl mec bologcal horc an mu

w l connung o gaher an hor everhngful o purpoe bu I n goo o ee ha n pe

uch preoccupon n obeon m mn wa l


35/252

THOM MN

2

open o impreion rom ouide he mgic circle rom he

world h did no perin o he noel Red n ecellen

ricle in he Naton piece by enry me on icen e down one dy. Wrien in he ge of weny-

wo Amzing I here nyhing like i in Germny? he

criicl wring o he We re r uperior en-

ie reding in Niebuhr book Th Natur and Dtny ofMan ll fer midnigh reding in i enirey Sifer

wonderful Rock Crytal" Bu hen oo he col miner

rike eriou crii Goernmen keoer o he mine.roop o proc hoe wlling o worwhich will be

few Red ome curiou hing on he ingoriou defof he Germn in Afric Nohing of Nzi fnicim o

he l drop o blood lking in he eening wih

runo Frnk bou he ne rike we here nd he d

minirion' reponibiliy or i Concern bou heAmericn home ron eie bombing o Dor

mund ih more hn hound plne All urope ininion eer Preprion of he French underground

orgnizion Announcemen o generl rie he grri-

on in Norwy i inruced o gh o e l mnwhich neer hppen n Aric ooooo prionr wereen. Superioriy o mriel in quniy nd quliy e-

plin he icory xpecion o he inion ofIly nderking gin Srdini nd Sicily re in he


36/252

e Str f a Nvel

2 9

og n he eeng read Lo' Labou Lot"

he Shepere play i perine all wihin he

mgic circlewhile around i oud he upror o he

world upper wih he Werel nd ra oerio

on Niche ad he piy he aroueor hi or moregenerl deperaio Meeig wih Schberg and Srin-

y plned . . alcuaio o ime ad ge reliohipi he oel il ic nd m . O Rim-

cneider d hi ime. Purcha V olbch' tuntn-

d a hadboo o muical inrum No concrnig Leerhn a muicin Hi gin m o be

elm Adrea, or Adri Noe on aci idogy ohe period Ghering a he Werl wih Scberg

umped S a gre dea on muic and he lie o comper

o my dep peaure he hime ii we mu ll ge

oeher more oen he Ared Neumn wih ur upper hie he ladie were preparig he meal (we

e wihou a maid), epounded he pln o he noe o

N, who w irred o mazeme

hal neer orge ha hi aihul riend or whom

d awy hd uch hig regard liened wih ecmaion he ee inere Hi aiude cormed me in all d e abou he booall he pleaure ad pain whic

aed rom he dea a oulined i o him, my word

mig o me wly and eaily Wha mo impreed him


37/252

HOA A

hink w he cenr ide he igh from he diculie

of he culur crii ino he pc wih he dei h cing

of proud mind hrened by eriliy for n unblocingof inhibiion ny co, nd he prlel bwen perni

ciou euphori ending in colpe wih he nionliic

frenzy of cim herd ler h on he drie home he

oe o hi wif he whole wy of wh hd conded ohim

On My 2 3 94 Sundy morning il more hn womonh fer hd fched ou h od noebook nd lo

he de on which hd my nrror Serenu eiblom

o work begn wriing Docto Fautu

My diry of he period doe no ecord ecly when mde

he deciion o inerpoe h medium of he frind be

ween myef nd my ubjec; in oher word no o ell he

ife of Adrin Leerkhn direcly bu o h i old ndherefore no o wrie a nol bu biogy wih l irpping Auredly ecollecion of h hm uobiogr

phy of eli Kull inuenced me here. Beide hi regy

wa bie neceiy in orde o achiee cerin humorou


38/252

e Stor of a Noe

3

leeig of he ombe mel d o mke hoo

beble o mylf well o he ede. o mke he

dmoic i p hough udemoic medium oeu hrmle d imple oul well meig d imid,

wih he ecil of he oy w ielf comic de I

remoed ome of he burde fo i ebled me o ecpe he

urbulece of eeyhig diec, peol, d cofeiolwhich uderly he beful cocepo, o ee i o i

diecio d o ey I depiced hough he eye

of hi good uheroic oul, who could oly wig hi hd

d he hi hed hee ee

Bu, boe ll, he epoiio of he o mde oible o ell he ory o dul ple of ime, o wee

ogehe he ee which hke he wrir he wrie wihhoe he i ecouig, o h he quieig of hi hd i

mbiguouly d ye obiouly eplied boh by he ib-io of di bomb hi d by h ie coerio

h Profeor eiblom begi hi ie o he me

dy h I myelf pu he r lie o pper i chceiic

f he eire book, of he cuiou brd of eliy h clig

i, which e from oe pec i ol rice i p of plyful eor o chiee pecieprecie o he poi of

g ifuriigeliio of omehig ciol he

phy d he chrce of Leekh hi wok

oer, ook curiouly ruhle fom, d w co


39/252

THOA A

3

ny mzed by he y i nic mechnim dre

upon cul, hioricl peron nd een lierry d A

in e pnorm on in my childhood, plpble reliyw oreer indiinguihbly merging ino pined perpec

ie nd illuion hi monge echnique w coninuly

rling, een o me, nd ge me cue o orry Ye i

rigly belong o he concepion o he ide, o heboo; i h o do wih he rnge nd licenio piriul

relion rom which i emerged wih i gurie nd

en gin lierl direcne i crcer rcnum nd

coneion o long I w woring on e boo,

e concep o i public eience did no nr y mindhe muggling o liing peron, nmed ly by nme

mong he crcer o he noel, wih wom ey eheir plce eqully rel or unrel, i only minor emle o

e monge principle I m peing o ere i e iner

weing o Leern rgedy wi o Nizchewhoe nme doe no pper in enire boodiedly,

becue e euporic muicin h been mde o mucNiece ubiue he originl i no lone permied

epre eience. here i he ing o Niceeperience in e Cologne bordello nd o e ympom

ology o hi diee; here re he deil quoion rom

Ecc Hom; lo he borrowing rom die menu o be

ound in Niezche ler rom Nice (which mu he


40/252

Str f a N

33eped he enion o o reder) likewie borrowed

ro Pul euen oun o hi l ii o hi dernged

riend o who he brough bouue o ower. uo

ion of hi kind he oehing uil bou he

diregrding he inne ehnil uliy hey re ore

oer reliy rnored ino ion ion h borb

he rel nd hu rngely proen nd rie inglingo he phere. lo quoedbu hi i obiouro he

biogrphy o hikoky whoe iniible friend Fru

on Mek i here preened Mde de oln he oryo he wooing i lo uoed fro reliy he rekle

hough i w in ruh by no en reklepuing o propol hrough friend

Sine here i o uh Niehe in he noel h i h

been lled Niehe noel i beoe ey o ue

h he ringle o Adrin Mrie Godeu nd RudiShwerdeger i righ piure of Niehe propolo Lou Andre hrough Re nd o Frulein rpedh

hrough ugo on Senger who w lredy hlf enggd

o her) Bu een een ro he poin o iew of Leerkhn

hielf he ringle i rher Shkeperen reiniene uoion ro he onne whih Adrin lwy h by

hi nd whoe plohe relionhip o poe loer nd

riend he oi o he reherou wooing h ii lo

hee o eerl o he ply hee ery ply in lie


41/252

HOA A

4upon he muician dek Twlfh Nh Much Ado abou

Nohng and Two Gnlmn of Vrona And Adrian

ae michieou deigh n weaing no hi remrk oeiblom, who i no more aware of i han he reder, direc

quoaion from hee play. curiouy formal phrae

You would be obliging me ery much by hi friendly

erice" a quoe from Much Ado abou Nohn whereClaudio confee o he prince hi loe for ero Laer e

repe he bier Friend are ike ha oday" from Two

Gnlmn of Vrona and cie almo word for word he

ere

Whom can you trust, hen yor own rigt hnd

Stke you te breat?3

n he peruaon cene beween himef and Rudi n Pfef

fering, one of my faorie cene in he book he uie h

faal reqe wih hee word from Twlfh Nh

T ad oog quoao rom Saar audrgo om rrv ag ramuao romEg o Gma ad rom Grma a io Egppay Toma Ma dd o form aaor or Fustus o dd quoao Grma of uh d bu Nhng orga adMy g, our g o may do m good. Sapar oga "or u rd o8 Orga "Wo oud ud o' o rg ad

I rjur'd oom


42/252

e Stor of a Noe

3 5

e w e e ea o yo wod oe o ayg

u a oee woud ay

d afewad, pupoedly lameig hi folly, he oceagai quoe fom Much Ado about Noth cig o

eblom he imge of he foolih choolboy who d a

bid e ad ou of hee j oy how i o aohe boy, whohe goe ad eal ." 5 Wheeupo Seu, o op i o,

ucociouly oi i he game of quoaio a he eplie

I o i o hame o be uig, uely; hey ae hepoio of he hef" e come peilouly cloe o ayg

lieally he ageio he eale." wa Fak ai wo hi igeiou book o Shake-

peae poied ou ha he woog moif of he oe

ecu hree ime i he play. Faustus i ake a peculia

fom of moage. dia, goeed by h pecial elo-

hip wh he wooe" Schwedfege, delibeaely ad whiie playfle epea a clch, o myh, wh dead

pupoe. O he deil igaio, wh malice afoe

hough, he bigig Rud o hi deahad eiblom

ow i. Origna "S and i br in y you

Tan n a nunio o mor gv ap. Orgna "Wo bng ovrjoyd ndng a brd n

o ompanon and a i.6 Origna "W o mak a r a rangron?


43/252

TOA A

6

Ough I a cie a an eampe f uch an ac f mn

age ad hef fm reaiy an eeme hich may pern

hve fud becinabe; namey, Adrian Leverhn ap-prpran f Schnberg cncep f he evene

r yem f muc I uppe I mu, and frm n he b, a Schnberg eque carry a pcrp

peig u he neecua prpery righ fr he uninfrmed Th i beng dne a b again my n cnvcin

n much becaue uch an epanan c a ma

brech i he ruded, negra rd f my nve, a be

caue hin he phere f he b, h hi rd f

a pac i he dev and f bac mac he dea f heevene echnque aume a cran and a charace

hch de n pe n n rgh and hch h

n n a ene mae eay my prpery, r, rahe

he prpery f he b Schberg' dea ad my ad hoc

vern f der dey a, ade frm he yic

fau, ud have eemed am nung, my mind,

have menned hi name n e e

When I began rie ha Sunday mrning my eere cny and here a acua ren une Ye


44/252

Stor o a Nov

37he b, nsfar as he sequence f evens as cncerned,

mus have an pany befre my eyes mus have had a

fary gd vera ve f be abe a nce ae ups nre cmpe f mfs, gve he begnnng he per

specve n dph f he he, and py he par f heremuus bgrapher s d h hs subjec ha he s a-

ays hapssy ancpang and sng hmsf n aer de-vepmens s nervusness as mn as pardyng myn verbrmng egerness. And as a bn pay

hs par e h b be ren fr me as ere be

cnscus f he ndrecness f my respnsby ang

h such nense resv acheve drecness ng nhe game reay and my prvae rd necssary he

mas and he payfunss ere n ve f he earnesness f

my asand hs I as ceary cnscus f frm he very

sar If earer rs f mne had assumed a mnumenacharacer, a eas n se, hey had dne s unepecedy

and unnennay Buddnbook, Th Magc Mounan,

he Joh sres, even Th Bovd Run had been n-

ended rgnay as eremey mdes e narraves and

had grn Ony Buddnbook n fac had been cned as a nve, and Th Bovd Run as a bes a sma

nehe rds A ma Nov sand n he e page f he

anuscrp Ths me, hever, n hs r f my d

ge, as deren. Ths ne me I ne ha I as se


45/252

HOA A

38

ng ut t d and wat task I was ipsing upn myself

t write nthing less tan te nvel f my er, disguised as

the stry f an artists life, a trribly iperild nd snfulrtist r all y curisity and eagerness I ws nt at ese

abut the busness. prpse tt a wrk be big in every

sense t plan it s fr te start, was prbably nt right

niter fr te wrk nr fr te stte f mnd f the uthr.herefre must intrduce as uc jesting s uch ridi

cule f the bigrapher, s uc ntisefimprtnt ck-

ery as pssibles uch f al tht s ws huanly pssibe And te wife my narrating unist was t be

naed Helen lhafene very day after I had begun I again ad an ccsina

piece t write t eet te demands f the ur ne f mynthly brdcsts in Gern, tis ne t cmemrte

te b burnigs By the end f May, te mnuscript f tebk cnsistd f n mre tn tw pages une ws brken

in te idle by a lecture trip t San rncisc, whic, aside

fr the ltrry prepratin fr it, cst e r dys than

I ied. Neverteess, in the curse f that nth, during

wich d my sixtyeigt birthday, fur chapters fFauu were written And n June 28 ccrding t y

diry, cae te rst reading fr te nvl. he rnks

fr supper Later, in y study, read alud fr Docto


46/252

e Stor of a Noel

39Faut, te rst tree cpters Ws deeply oved, nd te

erers proved receptive to te ur of exciteent tt e-

nted fro it ll

Strusss biogrpy of Ulric von utten occupied me.

Professor iic replied to my questions bout sdying fo

te inistry red Luters coentry on te Aocal

nd Berio eoirs in Engis tnstion At n eveninggtering t eucwnger's we et Miss Dodd duger

of te forr Aericn bssdor to Hiers Gerny,

te ctor Hool, nd ong oters rnz Werf wo

took occsion to tel e bout is new nove project te

utopin fntsy a of th Ubo, nd of te enoousdiculties it invoved Here ws cordeone o d

so let iself in for soeting insne, probbly ipos-

sible .

A few dys te Enst Keneks boo Muc H adNow ce y wy. t proved to be rerbly usefuwok of reference uc redi of enes �c

recurs sever ties in te diry At te se ie subled

coss soe curious infortion in soe gine con

cerning spirul usic ong te SeventDy Bptists ofPennsylvni, wit epsis on te strnge gure o onn

Conrd Beissel, wo ten nd tere decided to incude

n te ectures wit wic Kretsc te Stmerer open


47/252

THOMA MA

up e wrld f uic yung Adian (and e eade

e bun yeaician and ce we

ery aun e we nve w l ring ee wa cncern e ecnica

uic pec f e bk w giving e ne f e

cief dend f e bk w a cnd f ee ecni

cliie e e exen a n pfeinal (and eei n re jealuly guarded pfein culd aug a e

Afer l, ad alway been very cle uic ad drawn

innie iulin and any aiic len fr i,

d a yeller de ue f i prcice nd criicl

eyi decribed i prduc uc a prineneber f e guild En c, d dened y uic

aking a bliing e bundry beween uic a pe

ciy nd univer eleen e ruble wa a i

ie e univrl eeen did n uce i wa pac

icly e e a blundeing aaeurine. e pecialy w needed. ee i ning illier in nvel bu an

ri n eey er e exience f r lk bu

geniu bu wrk, il ee nd ve bu ei ef-

fec pn e ul f eir udence ccree rliyexaciude were neededi w uery cler e I

al ve udy uic I id y brer wen d

i f y prjec And a e e ie y diy cnfeeecnical uic udie frigen and bre e a de


48/252

h Sor o a No

n ean ha I cked he uge and indusy eneae

by eading nd eseach in he el f usica echnique

life nd creaiviy jus as hd in he inees f he Jo

f epe eneed in he wd f Orienis

riiive eigin nd yh. I culd lis a sl cgue

f bks n usic nd usicins in English nd Gean

ceriny gd w dzen wic sudd wh he encl eding wih ha eanesness nd lerness h ne e

plys nly f creive ends fr he ske f a wk in g

ess. Bu al his eiera cnc ws n cul sudy f

usc i wuld n sve e fr eposng my ignnce in

ec deils nd i did n equp e build up e lifewkf n ipn cse s h i relly seeed s if he

cpsiins culd be herd s ey were absluey

believbe (nd his is wh dmndd f ysef T d

needed uside id n dviser n eer in he subjecw ws ls cble f ge insih in my liery innins wh culd serve s e knwedgeble nsuc

hrng y ginive es. Suc help wuld be he

e wece since e usic ofr s he nve eas f

fr be sure he nvel l pcices ibu ha is ac in isefe usic ws nly fregrund nd e-

nin ny prdg f sehing e genea

ly ens expess he siuin f r in genea f

ure even f n and he inllec iself in u s iic


49/252

HO

ea nve f usic? Yes But it ws s cceived as a

nve f te cultue nd te era t ws terefre f supree

rtnce t cieve recise reliztin f te ens dte fregrund, nd tt I suld ccept elp wit tis ws

seting tt I egrded as uttery selfevident d ntur

e elper, dviser nd syptetic instructr ws fud

ne w, trug exceptinl tecnicl nwedge ndintelectul ttients ws recisely te rigt persn

Bk Enbun m mukalcn chan [naton

Mucal aton] is rcded fr n erly dte in uly

1943 rtnt. Brugt by Dr. drn. s tter f

fct te b in qusti turned ut t ve speci i-rtnce fr y w But te n f te briger (w

ust ve wn wt I ws engged i) bbs up gin

se tw wees terit ws te tie f te tig f P

e nd f te get Russin esive d ws in teidst f te sevent cpter f Fautu Muscipt frD drn Zu Phlo o d mod n Muk [On th

hloohy of Modn Muc] . Redig drns

k . . Studying drs uscipt . n te

evenig re eadig f te nuscrit wic is very in-structive and t te se tie pints up te vst diculty f

y rject inisd reding drns essy M

ents f luinti n Adrins siti e dicultesust ec teir igest pe befre tey c be verce.


50/252

Th Stor o Nvel

43

he desperate siuain art the st via factr. ustn se sight f the ain idea f igten inspirain, wse

ecsasy carries it beynd isef . . .Here indeed was sehing ipran. he anuscrip

deat wih dern usic bth n an arisic and n a sci

gica pane he spirit f i was rearkaby fwardk-

ing, sube and deep and he whe hing had he srangestaniy the idea f y bk, he cpsiin" in

which I ived and ved and had y being he decisi

was ade f isef his was y an

hedr iesengrundAdrn was brn in 93 in

rankfur a ain His father was a Geran ew isher, hesef a singer was he daughter f a rench ary

cer f Crsicanriginay Genesdescent and f

Geran singer He is a cusin f aer Benjain harried

t deah by he Nazis, wh ef behnd an aazingy perspi-cacius and prfund b n Geran tragedy (Deutch

aueel) which is actuay a phsphy and hisry

egry. Adnhe has taen his hers aiden nae

is a persn f siar ena cas, uncprising, trag-

y brant, perating n he highest eve. Havingwn up in an asphere enirey dinaed by thery

(iica hery as we and aisic, priariy usica,

ess, he sudied phisphy and usic In 1 9 3 e as-ed the pst f ecturer at rankfurt University and


51/252

HOM MNN

taugt pilspy tere unt e was expeled by te Nazs

Since e as been lving n Ls Angeles s cls t us

as t be alst a neigbrAl is fe tis an f rearkable intelect s refused t

cse btween te prfssins f pilspy and usce felt tat e was actuly pursuing te sae ting in bt

diverge reals s dialectic turn f ind and bent t-ward scia istry s nterlined wit a passin fr usicte penenn is n lnger unique nwadays nd is dubt-

ess cnnected wt te le cpex f prbls f ur

te. n pursuit f tis passin e studied cpsitin and

an at rst wit usic instructrs in rankfurt ten wtAban Berg and Eduard Stuerann n Venna r

t e was editr f te Vienna Abruch and was ac-

tve prting radical dern usicBut ten w is it at tis radicalis wic te layan

tends t tink f as a kind f usical sansculttis is ac

caned by an ntense feeng fr tradtin a distncty

strica atttude and an unswervng nsistence upn tec

nca astery and craft disciplinesuc as ave fund tie

and agan ang usicans f ts type? at tey depren Wagner s nt s uc s rantcs s excess is

burges caracter r is deagguery Rater it s very

spy tat e s ften cpses badly cannt judge


52/252

The Sy a Nvel

45Adrns cpsitins But is knwledge traditi is

astery the wle istrical bdy usic is erus

An Aerica singer w wrs wi hi said t e t is

incredible He knws every te n th wrld"

e anuscript e brugt e at te tie wse star

tlig pertinency t te wrld f y nvel instantly arrested

e, dealt largely wit Scnberg, is scl ad tetwelvetne tecique e autr presses is belie i

Scnbergs canding iprtace but te ges t

subject te syste t a prund ad searcing criticis

a pithy excessively sarpeed style tat wes uc t

Nietzsche and still re t Karl Kraus/ e sws te drecnsequeces tat ust w r te cstructive Sc -

bergia apprac t usic Hwever necessary it ay

jectively be t subject usic t rigrus ratinal aalysis

and wever illuinating tat ay e te eect s just tecnverse ratiality Over te ead te artist as itwere te art is cast back it a dark ytlgical real

Wat culd t etter int y wrld te agic square

discvered i ysel r, rater, rediscvered as a lg

filiar eleet i ysel a etal alacrity r apprpri-ting wat elt t be y w, wat belnged t e tat

Viennese stirist rt, nd po ( 874 936 one dor o e oleil reie Die Fakel.


53/252

HOA ANN

46

t ay, t te subject. Te analysis f te rw syste

and te criticis f it tat is translated int dalgue in Cap-

te XXII f Fauu s entirey basd upn Adrns essay ae cetain ears n te tnal anguage f te ate

Beetven, suc as ccur early in te b in rescar's

sputterings: te cents n te uncanny relatinsip tat

deat estabises between genius and cnventin. Tesedeas, t, I ad encuntered in Adrns anuscipt, wt

a eeling f te strange failiarity. As f tewat wd

sa I use?serenity wit wic put y versin f te

nt te ut y staee, ave ny tis t say:

ate prlnged activity f te ind it frequently appenstat tings wic we nce upn a tie tew upn te

ates eturn t us ecast by antes and and put int di-

eent eatinsips but still reinding us f wat was nce

u wn. Ideas abut deat and f, te self and te bective wrld, ay wel be egarded by te aut a

enetan nve f se ttyve yeas ag as ecllectins

ise. Tey culd wel ave tei place in te yunge

ans usiclgical essay and at te sae tie serve e in

y canvas f persns and an epc An idea as suc wilneve pssess uc persna and pprietay vaue in te

yes an artist. Te ting tat atters is te way it func

ins witin te faewk is creatin


54/252

The Sry a Nel

47Tward te end f Septeber 43 tug I was already

wrking n Capter IX, I was by n eans satised wit

te existing ersin f Capter VIII Kretscars lectures.One eening aftr dinner at ur use I read Capter VII

t Adrn. At table talking abut ne pints f usical

pilspy Afterward reading f te lcture capter n

tiacy wit usic glriusly cnred Questins abucertain details, se f wic are easily aended se n

s easily. On te wle reassured.

Tat reassurance did nt last Te nex seeral days were

again deted t crrectins reneents additins t te

lecture capter. Early in Octber (I ad eanwie againprceeded wit Capter IX), we spent an eening at te

Adrns Our d w grae ranz Werfel ad just ad

is rst seere eart attack and seeed t be recering

slwly and painfully I read tree pages cncerning tepian wic I ad recently interplated int y alaringly

yprtrpc capter and ur st read t us fr is stud

ies and apriss n eetenin wic a certain quta

tin fr Musaeus Rbzahl played a part Te ensuing

cnersatin passed fr uanity as te puried ct-ian eleent t parallels between Beeten and Gete

to uaneness as rantic resistance t sciety and cn

ntin Russeau and as rebellin e prse scene in


55/252

HOA A

48

Getes Fau) Ten Adn sat dwn at te pian and

ie I std by and watced payed f e te entie

nata Opus in a igy instuctive asin. I ad nevebeen e attentive. I se ealy te flwing ning and

te next tee days iesed ysef in a tugging

evisin and extensin f te ectue n te snata wic

becae a signicant enicent and ebelisent f tecapte and indeed f te we b Int te petic itteustative pases I wte f te aietta tee I sippeddns patnyic Wud (Madowlad) by

way f swing y gatitude

nts ateit was by ten eay n te ccasin a gateing at u use I ead t i and Max k

ee is fiend and cleague f te Institute f cia

eseac te st tee captes f te nve and ten te

Opus

episde. Te eading ade an extadinay i-essinintensied it seeed by te cntast between testngy Gean basis and clatin f te k and y

wn atgete dispaate pivate attitude twad te ania

ca cunty f u igin Adn fascinated by te usical

ateia and eve tuced by te itte tibute t cae up t e and said: I cud isten a nigt

ket i cse by e enceft knwing tat I wudave need is aid f abve a in te ete eaces te nve


56/252

Th Sy Nvl

49

VI

On Juy 4, 1943, e ceebrated y if itiet birtdayMany a penive recolection cae to ind of t rt period

of our eile in Sanary ur Mr ere we ad clbrated er

ftiet of t inc decad friend wo ad bn wit uten Rn Scickl Aong te congatultoy tlega

wa one fro our Eika no a ar corrpodnt in Cairo

e nw of Muolini fal cae around ti ti Ba

doglio ad ben appointd prir and con in cif

and furter liquidation oud certainly follow in pite ofocia aurance tat e will keep our pldg ad con

iue t war" e ary ad already takn ov te ili

tia dontation re braking out all ov county

ailing te end of Muoini and caling fo pc and nwpapr ifted teir line radicaly im ieri! wa t

cy of te Crriere dll era

a aborbed in Anton Scindle biogpy of Bee

ovn an intelectualy liied pilitin k but full o

ting ancdot and uful fact. e etcapter a well along but y day no toe dy

ak of fatgue and dprion of y dcion to put t

vel aide now for ad been forcing it pce and woktad on a ctur I ad proid to give in aington in


57/252

HOA A

te fall. I ped tat in ts nterval y entusias fr te

deils bk" wuld be refresed After seenty pages

te stry initial ipetus s exausted I ust ake a break,but I d nt feel yself t fr anyting else eier Hw-

eer a task cae y way wc I ad n trule fullling,

setig fr a fellwwriter and ne dear t e. Te

exiles were planning a celebratin fr Alfred Dblins sity-ft birtday Bertld Viertel was getting tgeter an

albu f andwritten cngratulains, and I cered a

andse fli seet f parcent wit wrds f deeply

felt veneratin fr te pwerful talent f te autr f -

li A lada and all w was leadg a lfef altgeter unerited bscurty n Aerca I attended

te celebratin tself in te Playuse n Mntana Avenue

ere was a ne prgra f recitatins and usic y

brter Heinric spke and in cnclusn te cief gureiself ade a wellturned, sypateic speec Oer te

punc afterard, y diary recrds cnversatin wtDblin and rnst Tc n te laters usc His surprisngadratin fr Pitzners Palia T uc fuss is ade

abut atnality e sad. It s unprtant Te etrnallyrantic quality f usic . "

Ntes n e lecture d its rganizatin ccupied es s te lecture tat later appeared in te AlaiMoly under te title f Wat is Geran I dictated te


58/252

The Sory o a Novel

5 1

st daft t y wfe, apled t by hand nshed te d-

ttn, and afte an nteuptn f tw wees nce aga

went bc t the nvel, ng cectns and vnghead. I ead alud seveal eale chptes, wth Bun ad

esl n as eceptve lstenes, wth the dea f spung

mysel nwd Dstubng eectwhch s the ght, the

nnt eect f the b Outwad ccustances weels dstubng, hwevthe pltcl undecuents f the

w a subject whch n tl wth fends t pecedence

pesnal dcltes Talng wth u fends f te

eltnshp t Russa, te dsunty, the dstust nu

shed by the absence f a eal secnd fnt the ecll fLtvnv and Msy Ipessn that what s gng n sccely cncened wth ths w any lnge, but wt the

epatn f te next. That was wtten n August

The agnets f a cncen tat lls the whle sul swefl and ysteus Ang peple t wl wtut

cnscus ntentn f the pesn cncened, gde the

vestn daw t esstbly nt ts sphee f attac-

t gvens fs, and cls extenal expeences, s-l nuntes. The scal ccasns tht at tht te nte d the even ten f y lfe ad, s f by hzd a

cl cast Dnng wth the Schnbegs n Bentwd

llent Vennese cee Talng wth Sch at length


59/252

HOA ANN

5 2

but music . " Siree t te erfels' wit Strvinsy

ted ut Scnberg. . uet dinner t Scn

bergs t clbrte is sixtynint birtdy. Mny guestsled wit Gustv Arlt Klemperer ru eisRein-

rdt Spent sme time wit Klemperer nd Scnergled t c "

At tis tie Scnberg sent me is b n ry teHamonele nd te librett f is rtri Jacob'

Ldde, wse religius petry fund impure On te

ter nd ws ll te mre impressed by is extrrdi-nry tet wse pedggic ttitude is ne f sm cn-

servtis te strngest mingling f piety twrd trditinnd revlutin

At tis perid t we begn t see muc f Artur Rubin-stein nd is fmily. ere is smeting bslutely rejuve-ntig fr me in bserving te life f tis frtunte virtus

Curted nd led fr is enrmus tlent wic verleps

ll diculties pssessed f urising useld mrvel-

us elt ll te mney e wnts ting intellectul nd

sensuus plesure in is cllectins is precius bs nd

pintingseveryting cnspires t me ne f teppiest persns ve ever met He s cnd f six

lngugesif nt mre. His csmplitn merry cnver-

stin lng wit is nc f giving te drllst imittins

f peple mes im sine in slns s e sines n te


60/252

Te Str f a Novl

5 3stage. His tremendus artstry makes im a success in every

part te glbe. He des nt deny is gd rtune and

certainly s cnscus wat it means. I ve nted dwns caracteristic i te instincive mtual espect r

te ter a wc came ut in a ew wds we nce ad

He and is wie, ang wit te Stravinskys nd a ew ter

guests, ad spent an evenng wt us, and I sid t m npartng Dear Mr. Rubnsten, yu must knw w greatl

nred I ee t ave ad yu ere wt us e urst nt

lugter. Yu d Nw tat wil be ne my unny

tries!"

e wrk n te capter te ur lctres wre nep int September, te mnt te cpture Srrent,

Cpr, and Isc te German evacuatin Sardina and

te retreat tward te Dneper ine in Russia, te prpara

ns r te Mscw cnerence Our minds were mucccuped wit specuatn n te uture Germany, r

wc te Russans bviusy ad ne pan and te West

ter. But te abt slatng te rst urs te day

ltgeter rm te pressure events, and rcgnzng

ny ne cncern durng tese urs, elped me t cn-trate Ardently at wrk n Capter VIII New md

wrk r tese srange and extremely persnal abrs I am gng aead and bldy wrtng Kretscmar'stures ut n ul, wt te certanty tat tey will be able


61/252

HOA ANN

54t stand as they are Wred eagery n the chapter

(Beethoven Did st re n the nve in the afternn

(dicult . h literary event of these days was public reading by

Brun ran at which a large part of the Gern colny

was present t ade e wnder alented and ne, as

always oreover, excelenty read. But what stries e dd is this: he uses the huanistic narrative stye f eitbl

with cplete seriusness as his wn n atters f style

realy n onger adit anything but pardy. n this, clse t

J,oyce . .

was reading the eirs f Hector Berliz His cery f Palestrina His contept for the talian teper in

usic and, incidentally, fr the rench vein as well. hetaians lc of feeling fr instruental usic (Verdi He

lso qetions their sense f harony Mere songbirds. Hehiself, with his incessant nave basting, reinds e stri

ingly f Benvenuto Cellini"

he overbriing ecture chapter was povisinaly

opleted during the rst twenty days f Septebr in in-

fernal heat, and began n the nineteenth in which Adriansusical education is carried forward n this chapter his de-

scriptin f the Leonre Overture No 3 gave e the ostpleasure recall an evening with Lenhad ran, wh was

wring on his delicate nve of a wans life, Mathild


62/252

he Sy a Ne

5 5fr wic e read aud t us y surprise e spke a

tabe f w stirred e ad been by wat e ad eard

octo Fautus He was sure, e said, that e wud ike tis

bk re than any f y ters it tuced at te rts f

is nature understd ery we what e eant ciais

in is piica beifs and an ader f Russia, e was at te

e tie ed wi a new feeing fr Gerany and itsidiisibiity. Gien te tenacity wit wich Hiters trps

ee si in tis was a patritis tat seeed curi

usy preature. Yet it was beginning t deep ang te

Geran exies and was t be gien igy petic epressi

ite ater in ranks utch Noll (A Gemaoy. His etina ineent wit Faustu was we-

e t e but at te sae tie wrried e cud nt

p taing it as a warningagainst te daner f y nes

ing its part in creating a new Geran yh attering teans wit teir denis I saw y ceagues

ise, terefre as being e t prceed wit cautin- thees f te bk, crisis tees, ad an extreey an cratin ust attept as uch as pssibe t

te in te uniersaities f te era and f Eurpe And_ cud nt keep fr incuding te wrd Gema i te

tite . At te tie f wic a speaking tis subtite ad

t visina and ratr inapprpriate fr Th tac o Ada Lekh a told by a fed A year ater


63/252

HOMA MA

s 6te cress tae lfe was t and I ad nstead The Lifeof the Gem Comoe

ee wre aways te deands f te day ntevenngupn y an task. Nw I wud ave t wte a new ad

badcast for Geany nw a ectue f te ews

wens rganzatn, Hadassa, a speec f a eetng

f Wrters n Exe ed eary n Octber befe a ageaudence n the Educatn Budng n te Westwd

capus. An Engshwan pesded. Ln euctwange

spke as a rencan naed Pgd a Geek by te

nae f Mts, Prfessr Gstav At and ysef Once

e I fund that pubc actvty a vst t te wd fuanty fr th kes f e s prne t take n a caactef fantasy da, and buney s tat wen I descrbe

c an aa n y bks I a nt addng ts eeent f

teay eect rathe, tat s just w tese aas appea te Mns wfe was n bed at e sueng fr pe

tnts. e an sef was vey pae and wre ournng,

as f s wfe wee aready dead (I ave n dea whethrse ded s was te cef pessn tat I cared he

f te eetngOne f te wdest gaps n te wtng f Fautu was

ased by a ney t te East and t Canda, t wc I

ad ctted ysef sete ag. Begn n Octbe 9t was a trp arked by any stps and t ed p y wk


64/252

The Sy Nvl

5 7or a ful wo months However, I did not part with the

nuscript the as yet meger pages cme along with me in

brief case which aso contained my ecture notes nd which

never eft in the care of a porter No sooner had reached

Chicgo on my way through to the East, than received

via my broherinaw the physicist Peter Pringsheim, a

ighly signicnt gift from collegue of his te univery t ws nothing ess thn the appratus for mking os

otic growths" of the kind ather Leverkhn dbbles in ate begining of the novel vesse contining solution of

ter glss and the necessary crystas for sowng cr

id this curious gift with me for weeks to Washington,ew York, Boston, and Montrel And one evening in our

ew York hotel, after a supper at Voisin's, wih mny a

ck shudder, we had crck at the pseudobiologica e

iment By we mean ourselves nd a group of our friends,ong them dear Annette Kolb, Mrtin Gumert, ritz ndsho, nd our Erika. had just read oud the tpters of Dc Fauu and now we actully wchd

muddy water sprouting those colored shoots which o

n Leverkhn had found so melanchoy while Adrin been moved to lughter

n Wshington we stayed, as always, with our odest

erican friends and ptron, Eugene and Agnes Meyer r handsome house on Crescent Pce, a center of the


65/252

HOM MANN

s citys soci life e news o f ty's coing over to te side

of te Allies er declrtion of w ginst Gerny

eced us tere. Once gin spoke t te Lbrry of Con-gress introuced by McLei nd two dys ltr tlked

t unter College in New York t se evening we

went on to Boston ere it ws Getno Svemini wo

ws overoyed to see gin wo introduced e to te pub-lic in ost engging ddress. e udience ws rge

undreds d d to be turned wy nd te utterly quiet

ttentiveness of tose wo istene to y one nd qurter

ou reding d s lwys soeting overweling

bout it for me. Wt brings tese people to er e? sk myself. A Cruso? t do tey expct? An do

tey nd teir xpecttions in te sigtest fulled? "

t wou see so. But of course te strngest mispce-

ments nd isunderstnings lso occu for s stopgpgents wi soeties sel one to plce were one s no

business being n cuts te oddest gure t ws ow it

ws in sll industril town were soe sort of povincil

public eeting ws being ed in te goo cuse of collect

ing oney for id to te wrtorn counties. e woleir took plce wit oors open i te coming n

going of te crow wt plenty of bnd uic rousing

speeces nd populr oks. My lecture copletely out of

plce s it ws ws evidently te windup of te vrigted


66/252

Stor of a Nov

59ogr. At sort notice cut it down to lf n our n

nuscript, nd in spekng condensed it to twenty inutes.

u tis ws stil fr too long, nd, boe l, not word wsble All te wle spoe people were pouring ut ofe ll to ctc teir busses nd trins." At te en te

irn ssured e tt te wole ting d been ery

uig tougt so, too. ut te orgnizer serous-nded lttle tron wo d trougout regrded e wit

ey worried expresson, too dierent iew Se ws so

ed tt we could not ssure er suciently of ow

d we were to e prticipted Een fter we were n-

led in our tiny otel roo se tleponed to s weter could not send us qurt of il by wy of refreent.

Ater isit to Montrel, we returned to New or

ere busy tie wited e On te spot tis tett

sy dircty fro C edquters d to dr; Gern brodcst. ere ws lso lecture to be gien

; Colubi Unersity, nd speec to be prepred for celebrtion of Ain onsons seente bitdy. Minrdt d died Bcue of sere cold ws unble

< e prt in te N ew or ril eeting ws lso cry of ppeing bcuse Gern exile

es, supported by Aericns of Gern descent like

ur, wee uc concerned wit te re Gerny

eent nd ws being sked to prticipteeen to


67/252

HO NN

6

take te leading le Te iea was t eae a decatic

Gean gvenent tat wuld be eady t take ve afte

Hitle's inevitable cllase Telgians wites scialistand Catlic statesen belnged t te gu and it was

sggested tat I be laced at te ead f it Idealists wte

elix Lange in is bk St Sto to Pac dea

f Tas Mann as te esident f te secnd GeanReublic a st tat e iself wul bably st de

cidedly efuse

He was igt Te idea f etuning t a Geany be

ce s lien t e educd by wa t a state I culd

etty well iagine and tee laying a ltical at abs-lutely cunte t y natue and fessin was antiatetic

t e t te dets f y sul. But I cncued witte lannes tat any citte ing t aticiate i

te saing f Geanys futue needed te snssif te Aeican gvenent just as te Pauus gu in

Rssia te Czc gvenent in exile in ngland enjyed

suc tectin. And igt at te utset I exessed gave

dubts as t wete te State Detent wuld fav

any ganizatin tat even etely esebled a Geangvenent in exile Neveteless I eed t g t as-

ingtn t claify tis cucial uestin I did s and in a cn

vesatin wit Assistant Secetay f State Bele fund y

negative exectatins cned. Wit ixed feelinsf


68/252

The Sy a Nv

6 1

desite al my esect f wat my felw cutyme

we tying t d, tis dnueent was a lf t e

eted te falue f my ssin at a secnd metingAt te teate we saw Pau Rbesn as Otelgd

nd cnvncing i te beginng, inadequate ate wechas etuns His Desdemda was nexistent te ag

ug, inteliget, but t ade f tat alst alegicalyudicus incanati f absute ev cany wit u

iend Cane Newt we as saw a mden play. was

nce again stuck by te efected natualness f te Ameian teate t is nt a questi f natuasm, wic is a

e O te cntay, it is utte unstyizti te ey-et f eality, and is me ack f inibitins tan at A

uean act, eve a secndak ne, stands ut in such

tue as a fascinating feig bdy ust als nt fget

glius matinee efance by the Busc Quatet atw Halthey layed Beetves Ous 1 3 , tat sueme wk wc, by wat migt be caled te kindness f

videce ad te cace t ea at east ve times dug te yeas was wkng n Fautu

ly i Decebe we set ut f te Middle West ging st t Cincinnati s tat culd kee a eading engagement

t the unvesity, ad tetaveng i watime discft

t St Luis ad Kasas City Tee, at te use f Me esident f te Univesity f Kansas City, we


69/252

HOM MNN

6

were ined by ur edest sn aus a sldier in the Aeri-

can ary n the pint eaving r verseas tat is t say

r the urpean teater war. He preceded is brtherG w was still at the stage basc trainig. Eria was

with us se t was deterined t return t Eurpe t resue her activity as war crrespndent S we were t-

gether with tese dear cdren r ne last tie bere aparting that presuaby ight be r very lng.

And s at ast ater any adventures erts acive

ents we returned e by the st direct rute. Durig

all tat tie in al te places we ad been tin ay say

tat the nve had nt been absent r y thugts evena ent. r Dr Martin Gupert had btained

dica wrs n sypiis the central nervus syste As

ed ver tese bs during te trip was again re-

inded w ng tis prject had ad t stand in inewaiting its turn waiting r te ulness tie re

calld tat as early as 1 ur years that is ater te ear-liest nte abut a aust stry had ased te bseer

Scer n aiilianstrasse in Munic abut such litera

ture reebered that y query had started the gdan r t way he raised his eyebrws it was car ethugt ad an all t persna interest in te subject.

Atgeter y readig n trains and in te rs was

entey reated in se way r ter t the b. Nting


70/252

The Sy a Nve

63else cceed e r culd d y aeiexce if i

ay be called a excei, ewsaer accus f curre

aeigs wic were eibls aair as well as ie:e scw cferece f Hull, Ede, ad lv say

ad crresdig liiciliary eergecy eeigs f

arsal Keiel ad is cries. A vlue f sixeece

uy urus ales ad accaied efr y arraivelways sd wi e f i a ceury ars f i wuld

ave be cas i e laguage f e erid, ad i leisure

urs e rue I busied yself exracig lder Ger

wrds ad rases. I read arlwes Fauu ad a Ger

Rieesceider i e Peasas War I is gd, ifwe are be up serius acievee i arrai, kee

i uc w grea eical wriig, seep urselves iswaers s seak Ad s I read ereas Gelf,

seSchwa Snn ( Th Black Sd)

I adire alsre a ayig else i wrld lieraue I read is Ul dnch ( U h Hd Man) wi is fe Heric vr

s ad is paler pslude d Pch (Ul h Tn-

n Fam)

usic, , f cuse, culd be lef aside I ad e e b Berliz eirs ad Ads auscp

berg His rigrus aer f verai e ragi

ly cerebral relelessess f is criicis f e ce

orary usical siuai was recisely wa I eeded r


71/252

HO

64wat culd draw fr it and wat I arriated fr it

in rder t prtray te wle cultural crisis in additin t te

crisis f usic was te fundaental tif f y bk teclseness f sterility, te innate desair tat reares te

grund fr a act wit te devi. Mrever tis reding

nursed te usical cnceptin wic ad lng been y

ideal f fr and fr wic tis tie tere was a secialestetic necessity. felt clearly tat y bk itself wuld

ave t bece te ting it dealt wit naely a usical

cpsitin

Wit se astnisent, but nt witut etin, re

read wat ad written in y jurnal n te jurney frDenver t s Angeles wile te trin rcked under eay te nvel clrify and take rper fr tis winter

rt task is t reve all errrs fr te lecture ca

ter A dicult wrk f art, like battle, eril at sea r danger

t life brings us clse t Gd in tat it fsters a religiusd and akes us raise ur eyes reverently in an appeal

fr blessing el, grace."

/

Hecing is a lvely adventure, esecially ecing

tis Pacc Cast I was encanted by te ligt by te


72/252

h Sr Nve

6ssecia fragrance f the ar, by the blue f the sy, te sun

te exhilaratg cean breeze the sruceness ad cleness

f this suthlad. ide ce me ver the stetc fm

lad statn t hme (lmst an hurs urey wit as

much imedng as when yu went the same way n te re-

vese diecti has smethng mrbabe abut t u

never wuld hve tugt f it qute lie tat funegbrs wh had bee eeng an eye n ur ts ad

tg cae f the mil bugt a uge sac f lettes alng

wt ceam ca ad wers. he Alfred Neums delvered the dle wh had bee left wth tem d w

nw wavered, bewdered, between tw sets f msts nder t se n tme uttg tigs n an dely bss yuertire yurself siftig trugh and destrying te ccu

muated rinted matter classifyng leers brugt alg r

witng at hme One etter was frm Bert Bect tingme t tas f my lac f faith in Germn demcracy Int wy ad sw t ts lc f fit? Ad ws te

cge usted? Pers my thugt ws tt terrble

mut had stl t be de befre tee wuld be y Ge

m demcacy t discuss be sue Hitle ws te lye w dd nt w that he was lst desite te fct tat

ll Eure excet fr Ity ws sti n s ands Cse

]uently we had the rght t ti beyd s feseeabe

d But hw shud we g abut t?


73/252

HOA A

66

ry after y return I ad t dea wt a etter fr a

news syndicate ey wised e t d an artce fr te

London Enng Standad n te questn f Wat t Dwit Gerany My nner nlgue ran Precarus,

carrying uc respnsbiity, and at te sae te unneces-sary Very ikey tis partcular cncern wl be einated

by unfreseen develpents. Wat revlutinized, pre-tarianized, naked and sripped, sattered sses beleving n

nting we sall ave t dea wit after ts war. Prcaa-

tn f a natna Blsevis and a ging ver t Russa

are nt ut f te questin. s cuntry is lst fr a decent,

lberadecratic repubic. . .I did nt write te artice. My next task, undertaken

gadly and wit feelings f tankfu reebrance, was twrk up a speec fr te Max Reinrdt era etg,

wic tk place n Deceber n te Wisre Ebeeatre n Ls Angeles. at ws prbably te rst te

tat te tw wen w ad sared s lfe, Heene i

and Else Heis, fund teseves tgeter n te sae

r Krngld and zigeti played. Parts f te l f A

Mdumm Nght' Dam were swn. elw rtists andpups spke, ang te an Aercan squrt eeven r

tweve years f age, fr Renardts Hllywd teater

sc, w gave us a sape f typca Arican ngenu-

usness and straigtfrwardness n pubic speakng wc


74/252

The Sor o a Novel

67was ast cedy. dnt knw w t speak abut Max

in a sen way We sipy were gd friends . We

cncuded t evening wit te ranks at te Brwn

Derby but neiter private nr pubic aairs seee abe t

prvide bigtr ateria fr ur cnvesatin ranz

Werfes cnditin was causing us te gravest cncern. And

prspects fr te war in Eupe nce again seeed dakand dubius. e disastrus episde at Bari ad just been

ade pubic. Winstn Curci was i in Egypt suering

fr is secnd but f pneunia. ad begun wrk again n te revisins f Capter V,

gave it a new na f, and decided tat ad it rigt atast. resued Capter X wic ad begun ny t turn

back nce re t ake furter reviins n te earier

capter. My estetic cnscience was never t be fuy satis

ed wit tat bterse sectin. Muc ater again rewrte te na diague At te end f te year was in te

idst f te next capter. Wrking n X and cut Dubts

abut te cpsitin be canged Reincences f

teatic ateria. . . . rigtfu bbing f Berin

Reading Scnbergs Hamony Begun t write Geran bradcast . . . . e ai as brugt a surprise rdert appear fr naturaizatin exa Read parts f Le

on n nh"

On Deceber : We unite in te eartfet wis ta in


75/252

HOM M

68

te wld year t ce ur sns ay t e safe On te rst

day f te new year ust agan take up wrk n te per

aps pssle ne. May setng wrty e adef t

Oy a few days f 19 ad passed wen a eraeletter fr Werfe arred. Dctated fr s scked

wc gt e s deated He spke f Buddbookwc e ad ust reread n tree days and wc e calle

te mst earnest anner, an mmrtal sterpece.

tug ts wrk f y yut ad fr s ngalst a

a century nween eadng ts wn lfe ndependent

me, and altug t scarcey seeed t pertan t e anyngr, was deepy aected y ts essage, reacng e

as t dd under suc curus crcustances. r y presen

udrtkg was setg lke a elated return and e

cmg t te ldfasned Geran and usca spere

tt t nel at Buddbook suld nce re ae

captd a rstrate artsts nd ke Werfes at ts f a

tes was und t tuc e deepy r te rest, te cn

sderatns arused y te etter were far fr arrgant. "

a wnderng wrte weter ts k ay nt e teery ne ang al y wrks wc s destned t sure

Peraps y ssn was fullled n te wrtng f t, and

as een y lt nly t te rest f a lng lfe n a ter

ay dgned and terestng anner I d nt wan t e


76/252

r f Nve

69ungrateul and denigrate te urse f my lie after that

yutful ast te die as it develed thrugh

and But this iht

be a ase like that the that era alone hs reained alive amng the ele although the moser fl-

lwed it u by a god deal f musi that was even bter

nbler Still and all, and are als n tereertire

A ew days later I went t see Werfel w loked vey

ad ut immediately egan t lay ral variatins uon the

eulogies in his letter I std at te ft f is bed beside

wi the xygen aaratus was munted With eyes xedun me he exlained tat it seemed almst inredible to im

t see te autr f standing s materially e

fre him.

Hw arateristi f him was the hildlkeness tis entusiasm I ave always een very fnd f ranz Werfel I

ave admed is great lyrial git as a et and herised isalways interesting narrative art altug at es it ak

artiti selfntrl I ad my doubts aut his laying wit

irales in intelleually tere is someting iure abut it But I uld never really lame his nave and

hly talented artisti nature r te mystial inlinatins

hat mre and mre to r n im r is irting wit

me is ius weakness fr r and Vatian Nne


77/252

THOMAS MANN

0

tat botered e excet at toe unfortunate oent

wen e ecae aggreivey arguentative about it At

botto e wa a gure out of oera e coud even ooke an opera inger (wic it ad once been i abition to

e) toug at te ae tie e ad te ook of a Catoic

prit. He ad teadfaty rej ected te teptation to becoe

a convert on te ground tat it woud not do for i todey i udai at a tie of ewi artyrdo Wie e

w ieraby recovering fro ti i econd eart at-

tak and wa pending ore or e oitary tie in Santa

bara niig i utoian novetat tane and a it

wre potuou worI wa abe to ake i acquaintedwit oe part of te growing Fauu and to e wared

by eagr ypaty We ad dined at Roman wit

Aa Mar and ten joined i e aving eatn at oe

wit i perona yician. Lying on te ofa e itened toy rt tree capter and I a not forget ow truc e

waor a I ay reonitivey diturbedy Adrian

laughe in wic e intanty recognized oeting of te

uncanny an eeent of reigiou diaboi He aked about

it again and again. e augter! e aid Wat are yougetting at tere? O know I know . We wi ee.

Wit inigt and foreit e tu icked out one of te

a otif of te book te ind I ot enjoy working

witike ay te erotic otif of te bue and back eye;


78/252

T f Nv

te mte mtf te arallelsm f te landscaes r, me

sgncant and essntal rangng trug te wle b

and aearng n many varatns te mtf f cld wc

s elated t te mtf f laugter

n tat laugter te devl as e secret er f te bk

s nvsbly resent. He s tere t n te exerments f

Leverkn's fater ad my tsk was slwly t rvde utlnes fr wat culd be sensed fm te begnnng t allw

t mre and mre t assume frm and resence, as s dne n

te capters n telgy at Hallerst f all by Prfessrumf's crcature f Luter (wc s at te sme tme a

cmc relude t te lgustc devces f te bk, s tatlate n te Old German s really n every case a qute frm

umf) ad ten by clefuss' sdy cleague ad

advanced t ts regn f te bk by te mddle f eb-

ruay. And altug an artcle ayng trbute t ru Wal-ter n s ftet annversary as a cnductr was nt teoy nterrutn t te bk, ad te wtc stry dne

d als Cter X by te begnng f Marc My cm

ment: Lttle satsfactn n te wrk, wc seems t be ds

lvng under my nds Certanly t s an rgal enterrsebut I dubt tat my strengt wll suce. A msguded deat let t assume frms and dmensns ak t e Mai

oua e bass f tat s fatgue and sluggsess

s wrry ver te bks frmlssness crs u reet


79/252

HOA A

edly n te accanyg nte and te aance eet I

dew u f y wn enet. Cyi Cnnlly nce c

ened peceively at ne ut nt e t vain t d aing adly and n t caven t adi it Well I a ave

enug t adit at I was ied at te spect f un

gling a maj wk nd a I ften sueed t e pin f

despai f e belief t I was actually ding s Uliately it as is vanity wic cnqueed te fatigue and

luggishness and ade f e nvel te slid ceent suc

tue at it is.

I ald wi Adn weneve we et scially and

tug tese cnvesains I ateped get e gin usical pbls f e bk. I was aleady cn

cened u e idea f e beaktug wic wa

gealy in need f claicatin Wi sypaeic inteest

and eageness t elp in any way e culd Adn uge a ighly petinent bk n Alan Bg w was n n

te same yea as Adian and wit w, inciden-tally I d nce cespnded I ad cpleely fgtten

tis pably ecause I ad nt en clealy gasped is

ce Alma Male ad t eind e tat afe te ub-lcain f e st vlue f Joeh ad Hi Brother e

d wien a vey cdial lee t e f Vienna andta ad eplied gaefully. I wuld give a gat deal


80/252

r f Nv

7 ave i letter till Wit mc ele it wa left by te

wayide

A memable literary event ccrred wile wa wrking

n Capte XVte tdent talk f wic incidentally

I ed a dcment tat I fnd amng my vai ld pa-

per a German yut magazine publied by te Wander-

vgel r me milar grp. e literary event wic frday cncerned me in te deepet and mt pernal way

wa te arrival frm witzerland bt vlume Her

mann Hee Magit Ludi. After year wrk my fried

in ditant Mntagnla ad cmpleted ti diclt and beau

tiful nvel f i ld age wic I ad itert een nlyte mgnicent intrdcin tat ad cme ut in te u

Rundchau ad ten aid tat ti writing wa a cle t

me a if it were part melf" a it ge in te ld pem

I Had a Comad. Nw eeing te wle ting I wa al-mt alarmed at it kinip wit te tak ad elected te

ame idea f ctinal bigrapywit te dae f pardytat ti fm necearily invlve te ame cnectin wit

muc Al a criticim f culture and r era altug

frm te pint view f a viinary cltural utpia andtey clture ater tan a painate and telling

dramatizatin r tragedy Wit all te dierence tere

emained a ditrbing imilarity My diay nte e e


81/252

THOMAS MANN

74mnded tat ne s nt ane n te wrldalways unea

ant" bluntly renders ts asect f my feelngs t s anter

versn f te questn n Getes Wlcr DwaD we ten live f ters lve?" and s as reminscent f

certan remars by Saul itelberg n te unwillngness f

artsts t knw abut ne anterrearks tat ater

wrte witut ayng te t mysef admt t a weearted cntemt fr medcrty e

medcre knw ntng f excence and terefre lead an

easy, stud life y mnd, t many ele wrte. But

wit tse w tread te same dicult at, tink may

cl mysef a gd cleague w des nt k grudgnglyat te gd and great tngs tat are being dne angsde

, and w s far t fnd f admratn, and beeves n

it far t deely t reserve s wn fr te dead.

was face t face wt mature ecelence ere Certanlymuc er deely cncealed and carefully aled, adgne nt ts wrk Wt wat umr and artistry ad tese

cntrved t kee te ntelectuazatn tat cms wit

mann, thomas - story of a novel (knopf, 1961)

Documents