 | A WRITER'S WIT |  I. Shah |
My Book World
Tóibín, Colm. The Magician: A Novel. New York: Scribner, 2021.
There aren’t enough superlatives that can be ascribed to this novel, the author of which has published twenty-four other books. This fictionalized story of literary giant, Thomas Mann, is both riveting and sobering. The young Mann writes poetry exalting his also young lovers, all male. But in his Germany he cannot get out of marrying. And in fact, he does marry a woman he loves, and they produce quite a family. The novel traces their lives as they unfold in pre-World War II Europe, and as their lives extend to America, where the Mann’s take up residence. The book as well traces the processes or problems he incurs in writing some of his important works, including Death in Venice. It seems that Tóibín utilizes only the most important details or facts, or otherwise, his five hundred page novel might be twice the journey. A joy to read if you care about world literature and its important authors.
Coming Next:
TUES: A Writer's Wit | Lillian Hellman
WEDS: A Writer's Wit | Ian McEwan
THURS: A Writer's Wit | Adam Schiff
FRI: My Book World | Pat Conroy, The Great Santini
There aren’t enough superlatives that can be ascribed to this novel, the author of which has published twenty-four other books. This fictionalized story of literary giant, Thomas Mann, is both riveting and sobering. The young Mann writes poetry exalting his also young lovers, all male. But in his Germany he cannot get out of marrying. And in fact, he does marry a woman he loves, and they produce quite a family. The novel traces their lives as they unfold in pre-World War II Europe, and as their lives extend to America, where the Mann’s take up residence. The book as well traces the processes or problems he incurs in writing some of his important works, including Death in Venice. It seems that Tóibín utilizes only the most important details or facts, or otherwise, his five hundred page novel might be twice the journey. A joy to read if you care about world literature and its important authors.
Coming Next:
TUES: A Writer's Wit | Lillian Hellman
WEDS: A Writer's Wit | Ian McEwan
THURS: A Writer's Wit | Adam Schiff
FRI: My Book World | Pat Conroy, The Great Santini
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