Joseph and His Brothers Book 2: Young Joseph

Published over a ten-year period between the years 1933 and 1943 while the writer was in exile, Thomas Mann’s Joseph and his Brothers is an epic four-part novel that works as a retelling of chapters twenty-one to thirty of the Book of Genesis. Described as a “Mythological novel”, It took Mann over sixteen years to write the novel and was considered by the writer as his greatest ever literary achievement. 

In this second volume subtitled ‘Young Joseph’, Mann shifts his focus to Joseph’s formative years, moving towards the novel’s ultimate conclusion where he is imprisoned by his brothers and sold into slavery. 

Deploying Mann’s signature capacity for incredible, often mesmerising detail, Joseph and His Brothers brings to life a world of mythology and legend, set within the ancient kingdoms of Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Palestine. The result is an impressive, awe-inspiring work of psychological depth–one that is replete with historical detail, ironic humour, and breathtaking grandeur.

This recording is based on John E. Woods definitive English translation, providing an authoritative retelling that is worthy of Mann’s landmark work.

Public Domain (P)2025 W F Howes Home ltd

Volume 2 of Thomas Mann's magnum opus

Seamless continuation of Book 1, continued enjoyment of the author's telling the story of arrogant Joseph and his angered brothers, with lots of expanded depth to the Bible, all of which fits nicely. Two small annoyances: 1) there are places where the book would have been improved by little editing, 2) the narrator when voicing shouting in anger pitches his tone higher when lower would have been better, and it becomes painfully shrill

The Ultimate Horizontverschmelzung

A brilliant reading of a brilliant translation of a brilliant retelling of a masterpiece of classical Hebrew prose narrative. It remains only for you, the listener, to bring your horizon and aptitude and willingness to listen to and be enlarged by this multilayered fabric of ancient, medieval, and modern culture, history, symbolism, and storytelling. Pathos, profundity, and humor! (The peevish angel's long conversation with Joseph on the way to Dothan, for example, is hilarious.) Looking forward to Book 3.

Joseph and his brothers Book2 Young Joseph, Translated by John E Woods, Read by Mark Elstob.

I was surprised to find how interesting this “Mythological novel” is. It is one of the best novels I have read or listened to. The author’s breadth of knowledge and storytelling ability are really first rate. The translation is clear and accessible. Narrator could hardly be better. I can’t wait to get on with book3 when it is released. Audible please continue with book4 to complete the novel. It is one of the best I have read or listened to.

Verbose

Lacking the philosophical and mythological depth of volume one, the verbose and slow-paced story-telling of volume two is certainly no improvement over the Biblical saga's original stark-boned beauty.