Thomas Mann (1875-1955) – German novelist
Ernst Bertram (1884-1957) – German writer
Includes: Thomas Mann, “Buddenbrooks Verfall einer Familie Roman,” Berlin: Fischer, 1906, “Tristan,” Berlin: Fischer, 1906, “Ausgewählte Erzählungen,” Berlin, Frankfurt, & Main: Fischer, 1948
Each volume includes personal manuscript notations from Ernst Bertram throughout
All octavos, two hardcover, one softcover, the largest is 220 mm x 140 mm
All in fine condition

Thomas Mann’s first novel, “Buddenbrooks,” chronicles the decline of a wealthy north German merchant family over the course of four generations. Mann drew from the history of his own family for this work. “Buddenbrooks,” has been cited as the central work behind his reception of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1929. This edition was part of the collection of Mann’s fellow writer and close friend, Ernst Bertram. It is signed and dated by Bertram in ‘May [19]06’. Additionally, there are extensive pencil notations by Bertram throughout, with two full pages of dense notations on the rear end papers. Alongside, “Buddenbrooks,” are Mann’s, “Tristan,” and “Ausgewählte Erzählungen,” with further manuscript notations by his friend, Ernst Bertram, in the margins of the texts.

“Buddenbrooks,” is bound in brown cloth covered boards with gilt on the front panel. The rear interior spine hinge is weak. All edges are gilt. “Tristan,” is bound in the publisher's green cloth covered boards with an Art Nouveau design on the verso. “Ausgewählte Erzählungen,” is bound its original printed wrappers. Overall, each is in fine condition.

Thomas Mann (Lübeck, Germany 1875-1955 Zürich, Switzerland)

Not only a Nobel Prize laureate novelist, Thomas Mann was a social critic and philanthropist. His knack for drama and symbolism imbued his novels with a deep insight into the life of an artist and intellectual. When Hitler came to power in 1933, Mann fled to Switzerland, and later the immigrated to the United States. Though returning to Switzerland later in life, he never again lived in Germany.

Ernst Bertram (Wuppertal, Germany 1884-1957 Cologne, Germany)

Writer and scholar, Ernst Bertram was a student of literary history, modern art and philosophy. Bertram and Mann’s friendship and mutual influence has been chronicled in their letters to one another. Most notably, Bertram’s 1918 work, “Nietzsche, Versuch einer Mythologie,” helped shape Mann’s own philosophical themes. Bertram’s later political leanings, inward and outward, have unpacked to much debate.