Correspondence, 1925-1935 - Theodor W Adorno

In December 1945 Thomas Mann wrote a famous letter to Adorno inwhich he formulated the principle of montage adopted in his novelDoctor Faustus. The writer expressly invited the philosopher to'consider, with me, how such a work - and I mean Leverkuhn's work -could more or less be practically realized'. Their closecollaboration on questions concerning the character of thefictional composer's putatively late works (Adorno producedspecific sketches which are included as an appendix to the presentvolume) effectively laid the basis for a further exchange ofletters.

The ensuing correspondence between the two men documents a rareencounter of creative tension between literary tradition andaesthetic modernism which would be sustained right up until thenovelist's death in 1955. In the letters, Thomas Mann openlyacknowledged his 'fascinated reading' of Adorno's Minima Moraliaand commented in detail on the 'Essay on Wagner', which he was aseager to read as 'the one in the Book of Revelation consumes a bookwhich tastes "as sweet as honey"'. Adorno in turn offered detailedobservations upon and frequently enthusiastic commendations ofMann's later writings, such as The Holy Sinner, The Betrayed Oneand The Confessions of Felix Krull. Their correspondence alsotouches upon issues of great personal significance, notably thesensitive discussion of the problems of returning from exile topostwar Germany.

The letters are extensively annotated and offer the reader detailednotes concerning the writings, events and personalities referred oralluded to in the correspondence.