Author. He was a German author, who was the older brother of Nobel Prize recipient novelist Thomas Mann. His novels attacked the nationalism, militarism, and authoritarian social structure of German life in his time. In "The Empire", a semi-historical trilogy published between 1918 and 1925, Mann chronicled what he saw as the decline and fall of his country under Kaiser Wilhelm II. His best-known novel, "Professor Unrat" in 1904, is the story of a repressed schoolmaster who becomes sexually enslaved by a nightclub singer. It was the basis of Josef von Sternberg's famous film "The Blue Angel" (1930), starring Marlene Dietrich and Emil Jannings. Mann was born in Lubeck. A militant socialist in his political views, he grew estranged from his wealthy family, and his books were frequently banned. When the Nazis came to power in 1933, Mann was stripped of his German citizenship and moved to France. He settled in Santa Monica, California, in 1940. Mann's years of American exile were bitterly unhappy. His wife Nelly, who suffered from depression, committed suicide, as did his nephew, novelist Klaus Mann. He refused to learn English and was largely supported by his brother Thomas, who lived in nearby Pacific Palisades. In 1950 the Communist government of East Germany appointed Mann President of their new Academy of Arts, but he died before he could assume the post. He was originally buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in California, but in 1960, his remains were returned to Germany and re-interred in Berlin at Dorotheenstädtisch-Friedrichwerderscher Friedhof I. He has a bust of himself as part of his grave marker. A German postage stamp with his image was issued in his honor.
Author. He was a German author, who was the older brother of Nobel Prize recipient novelist Thomas Mann. His novels attacked the nationalism, militarism, and authoritarian social structure of German life in his time. In "The Empire", a semi-historical trilogy published between 1918 and 1925, Mann chronicled what he saw as the decline and fall of his country under Kaiser Wilhelm II. His best-known novel, "Professor Unrat" in 1904, is the story of a repressed schoolmaster who becomes sexually enslaved by a nightclub singer. It was the basis of Josef von Sternberg's famous film "The Blue Angel" (1930), starring Marlene Dietrich and Emil Jannings. Mann was born in Lubeck. A militant socialist in his political views, he grew estranged from his wealthy family, and his books were frequently banned. When the Nazis came to power in 1933, Mann was stripped of his German citizenship and moved to France. He settled in Santa Monica, California, in 1940. Mann's years of American exile were bitterly unhappy. His wife Nelly, who suffered from depression, committed suicide, as did his nephew, novelist Klaus Mann. He refused to learn English and was largely supported by his brother Thomas, who lived in nearby Pacific Palisades. In 1950 the Communist government of East Germany appointed Mann President of their new Academy of Arts, but he died before he could assume the post. He was originally buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in California, but in 1960, his remains were returned to Germany and re-interred in Berlin at Dorotheenstädtisch-Friedrichwerderscher Friedhof I. He has a bust of himself as part of his grave marker. A German postage stamp with his image was issued in his honor.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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