Setting

Thomas Mann's novel Buddenbrooks is set primarily in the northern German city of Lübeck during the mid-19th century. Though not explicitly named in the book, the fictional city shares many details with Mann's hometown, providing an intimate portrait of life in a prosperous Hanseatic trading port. The story unfolds against the backdrop of Germany's gradual industrialization and unification, spanning the years 1835 to 1877.

The Buddenbrook family's grand mansion serves as a central location, reflecting their social status as wealthy grain merchants. As the family's fortunes change over four generations, their living spaces evolve - from the opulent new home introduced in the opening scene to the deteriorating old house and Thomas's ostentatious yet burdensome new residence. Other key settings include the family's business offices, local churches, and the seaside resort of Travemünde.

While major historical events like the Revolutions of 1848 and the establishment of the German Empire form part of the novel's broader context, they largely remain in the background. Instead, Mann focuses on meticulously depicting the domestic sphere and business world of the Lübeck bourgeoisie, bringing to life the manners, customs, and social dynamics of this mercantile class as it faces the winds of change in 19th century Germany.

Characters

• Johann Buddenbrook Jr.: Patriarch of the Buddenbrook family and successful grain merchant in Lübeck.
• Jean Buddenbrook: Johann's son who takes over the family business. Becomes increasingly religious in his later years.
• Thomas Buddenbrook: Jean's eldest son who inherits the business. Hardworking but struggles with the decline of the family fortunes.
• Christian Buddenbrook: Thomas's younger brother. A foolish and irresponsible character who travels widely and struggles with mental illness.
• Antonie “Tony” Buddenbrook: Thomas and Christian's sister. Has two failed marriages and remains devoted to the family name.
• Hanno Buddenbrook: Thomas's sickly son who is more interested in music than business. Represents the final decline of the family.
• Gerda Arnoldsen: Thomas's wife and Hanno's mother. A talented violinist from Amsterdam.
• Elisabeth Buddenbrook: Jean's wife and mother of Thomas, Christian, and Tony.
• Klara Buddenbrook: The youngest Buddenbrook sibling who marries a pastor and dies young of tuberculosis.
• Bendix Grünlich: Tony's first husband, a dishonest businessman who marries her for her dowry.
• Alois Permaneder: Tony's second husband, a lazy hops merchant from Munich.
• Ida Jungmann: The Buddenbrooks' loyal servant who helps raise the children.

Quick facts

• Mann began writing Buddenbrooks when he was just 22 years old and completed it three years later at age 25.
• The novel is loosely based on Mann's own family history in Lübeck, Germany.
• At over 700 pages, it was an unusually long novel for a debut work.
• The book's success helped Mann win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1929.
• Buddenbrooks sold over a million copies by the time Mann died in 1955.
• The novel chronicles four generations of a merchant family over a 40-year period from 1835 to 1877.
• Mann conducted extensive research on economics and grain prices to accurately portray the family business.
• Some characters in the novel speak in Low German dialect to add authenticity.
• The book was initially controversial in Lübeck for its portrayal of prominent local families.
• William Faulkner considered Buddenbrooks to be the greatest novel of the 20th century.

About the author

Thomas Mann (1875-1955) was one of the most influential German authors of the 20th century. Born into a prominent merchant family in Lübeck, Mann rose to literary fame with his first novel Buddenbrooks (1901), which portrayed the decline of a wealthy German family over four generations. His highly symbolic and ironic works, including the novella Death in Venice (1912) and the epic novel The Magic Mountain (1924), are noted for their psychological insight and exploration of the European and German soul.

Mann was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1929, cementing his status as a leading intellectual figure. However, his life and career were profoundly impacted by the rise of Nazism in Germany. An outspoken critic of Hitler's regime, Mann fled to Switzerland in 1933 and later emigrated to the United States. During World War II, he made a series of anti-Nazi radio broadcasts to German listeners and became a prominent figure in the German exile community.

Throughout his life, Mann grappled with his sexuality, which found expression in many of his works. His diaries, published after his death, revealed his struggles with his attraction to men and young boys. While Mann remained closeted during his lifetime and married Katia Pringsheim, with whom he had six children, his experiences of unrequited passion and sublimated desire deeply informed his writing.

After the war, Mann returned to Europe, settling in Switzerland in 1952. He continued writing until his death in 1955, leaving behind a vast literary legacy that includes novels, short stories, essays, and political writings. Mann is considered a master of German prose and one of the most significant writers of his era, known for his explorations of art, music, philosophy, and the complexities of human nature.