Death in Venice and Other Stories is a collection of short stories by German author Thomas Mann, first published in 1912. The centerpiece of the collection is the novella Death in Venice, which tells the story of Gustav von Aschenbach, an aging writer who becomes obsessed with a beautiful young boy Tadzio while vacationing in Venice. The novella is a meditation on beauty, aging, and death, and is considered one of Mann's masterpieces.
The other stories in the collection are:
- Little Herr Friedemann
- Disillusionment
- Tobias Mindernickel
- The Blood of the Walsungs
- Gladius Dei
- Wagemann
These stories explore a wide range of themes, including love, death, art, and society. They are all beautifully written and showcase Mann's mastery of the short story form.
Death in Venice and Other Stories is a must-read for anyone interested in German literature or the work of Thomas Mann. The stories are both beautiful and thought-provoking, and they offer a fascinating glimpse into the mind of one of the greatest writers of the 20th century.
Here is a brief summary of each of the other stories in the collection:
- Little Herr Friedemann: This story tells the tale of a man who is crippled by a social anxiety disorder.
- Disillusionment: This story is about a young man who loses his faith in Christianity.
- Tobias Mindernickel: This story is a satire of German nationalism.
- The Blood of the Walsungs: This story is a retelling of the Norse myth of Sigurd and Brynhildr.
- Gladius Dei: This story is about a conflict between faith and reason.
- Wagemann: This story is about a businessman who becomes obsessed with revenge.
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