A succinct introduction to the life and works of Thomas Mann, addressing both his literary texts and his personal life.

1. Introduction; 2. Origins, influences, and early mastery; 3. Artists and outcasts in Mann's early fiction; 4. From World War to the Weimar Republic; 5. The struggle against National Socialism; 6. A pact with the devil: Doctor Faustus; 7. Tribulations and final triumphs; Suggestions for further reading; Timeline.

Todd Kontje is Professor of German and Comparative Literature at the University of California, San Diego.