Buddenbrooks

Summary

«Buddenbrooks» is a novel by the German writer Thomas Mann, first published in 1901. It tells the story of four generations of the Buddenbrook merchant family from the Hanseatic city of Lübeck, covering the period from approximately 1835 to 1877. At the heart of the narrative is the gradual decline of this affluent family, which Mann examines through the lens of changes in economic conditions, social status, health, and interpersonal relationships among its members. The novel touches on themes of duty, religion, education, and challenges the notions of success and happiness in bourgeois society. The events in the book meticulously dissect the rise and fall of the family, illustrating how external circumstances and personal choices shape their destinies. «Buddenbrooks» was awarded a literary prize and brought Thomas Mann widespread recognition.