Michael Beddow Boeken

The book delves into the intricate historical, theological, psychological, and musical themes present in Mann's work. It highlights Mann's influences from the Faust tradition, as well as philosophical ideas from Nietzsche and neo-Marxism, providing a comprehensive analysis of how these elements intertwine within the narrative. Beddow's examination offers insights into the depth and complexity of Mann's writing, making it a valuable resource for understanding the broader implications of his themes.

In Doctor Faustus, his last major novel, Thomas Mann attempted to interpret and judge Germany's role in European culture and history since the Reformation. Through the figures of the solitary avant-garde composer, Adrian Leverkühn, and his often bemused biographer Serenus Zeitblom, Mann explores Germany's self-understanding and self-assertion. The novel intermingles fiction and history in a narrative that combines complex psychological analysis, virtuoso stylistic parody and vivid evocation of atmosphere and milieu. Michael Beddow analyses the structure of the plot and explores the significance of its chief historical, theological, psychological and musical themes. He considers Mann's understanding and modification of the Faust tradition, his thematic and formal indebtedness to Nietzsche and his interest in Adorno's neo-Marxism. The study concludes with an account of the work's generally hostile reception in defeated Germany.