Description
Book Synopsis: Son of the famous Thomas Mann, homosexual, drug-addicted, and forced to flee from his fatherland, the gifted writer Klaus Mann’s comparatively short life was as artistically productive as it was devastatingly dislocated. Best-known today as the author of Mephisto, the literary enfant terrible of the Weimar era produced seven novels, a dozen plays, four biographies, and three autobiographies—among them the first works in Germany to tackle gay issues—amidst a prodigious artistic output. He was among the first to take up his pen against the Nazis, as a reward for which he was blacklisted and denounced as a dangerous half-Jew, his books burnt in public squares around Germany, and his citizenship revoked. Having served with the U.S. military in Italy, he was nevertheless undone by anti-Communist fanatics in Cold War-era America and Germany, dying in France (though not, as all other books contend, by his own hand) at age forty-two. Powerful, revealing, and compulsively readable, this first English-language biography of Klaus Mann charts the effects of reactionary politics on art and literature and tells the moving story of a supreme talent destroyed by personal circumstance and the seismic events of the twentieth century.
Details
Discover the captivating and tragic life of the renowned writer Klaus Mann with our latest release, "Cursed Legacy: The Tragic Life of Klaus Mann". As the son of the legendary Thomas Mann, Klaus Mann's life was marked by adversity, addiction, and exile. Despite these challenges, his artistic brilliance shone through, resulting in a remarkable body of work.
Recounting his struggles as a homosexual writer in a conservative society, "Cursed Legacy" offers an intimate exploration of the issues that defined his generation. Through his seven novels, twelve plays, and four biographies, Klaus Mann fearlessly confronted taboos surrounding homosexuality, becoming a pioneer in German literature.
But his defiance came at a high price. Targeted by the Nazis for his anti-fascist stance, Klaus Mann faced persecution and censorship. His books were burned, and he was stripped of his citizenship. Despite his service with the U.S. military and efforts to rebuild his life, he found himself ensnared by the anti-Communist hysteria that plagued Cold War-era America and Germany.
With "Cursed Legacy", you'll delve into the dramatic life of Klaus Mann and witness the impact of reactionary politics on art and literature. This compelling English-language biography exposes the devastating effects of personal circumstances and the seismic events of the twentieth century on a supremely talented individual. Prepare to be moved, enlightened, and inspired.
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