M asks why I am re-reading Thomas Mann - stokes me that of the 3 great modernists - Joyce Proust Mann - he is the most conventional and accessible. His style not experimental but really the last flourishing of 19th century naturalism- the tradition of Flaubert an stendahl - but w a grander sense of philosophical and political issues. His novels are battles of ideas. His stories less so but still include conflict of ideas and of characters against a fully detailed socio historical background. Mario a chilling forecast of nazi power. Tonio one of the greatest statemena of the suffering of a young artists. Walsungs and disorder excellent portraits of dysfunctional families. Venice one of the great stories about a ruined life and perverse desire. Interesting how his stories establish themes he will explore in depth on his novels - tristan an obvious early look at the themes that would become magic mountain.
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