Doctor Faustus

By: Thomas Mann

Narrated by: David Rintoul

Thomas Mann's last great novel, first published in 1947 and now newly rendered into English by acclaimed translator John E. Woods, is a modern reworking of the Faust legend, in which Germany sells its soul to the Devil. Mann's protagonist, the composer Adrian Leverkühn, is the flower of German culture, a brilliant, isolated, overreaching figure, his radical new music a breakneck game played by art at the very edge of impossibility. In return for twenty-four years of unparalleled musical accomplishment, he bargains away his soul—and the ability to love his fellow man.

Leverkühn's life story is a brilliant allegory of the rise of the Third Reich, of Germany's renunciation of its own humanity and its embrace of ambition and nihilism. It is also Mann's most profound meditation on the German genius—both national and individual—and the terrible responsibilities of the truly great artist.

"John E. Woods is revising our impression of Thomas Mann, masterpiece by masterpiece."—The New Yorker

"Doctor Faustus is Mann's deepest artistic gesture. . . . Finely translated by John E. Woods."—The New Republic

Public Domain (P)2024 Ukemi Audiobooks

Critic reviews

'Arguably the great German novel'—New York Times

A singular book

This is the first title I’ve read of Mann’s and it was quite extraordinary. To fully appreciate it, it requires quite a bit of for knowledge, especially with classical music, Nietzsche, and the significance of the original Faust. Though, not for everyone, it is a masterpiece. I wish I had more people I could share it with. Also, the narration was top-tier.

Worth it

An excellent audio recording. The Rintoul keeps the story telling lively, embodying the story’s narrator, Serenus Zeitblom, as he tells of the life of Adrian Leverkühn. The only difficulty of this recording is the one that all translated audiobooks face—namely, that one never quite knows how the foreign names read on paper, just the way they sound when read aloud. That said, I highly recommend both the book and this version.

Extraordinarily written and voiced.

While this might not have been my favorite of Thomas Manns works, it might be his most important and personal. The connections between Germany and the sins of the third Reich are ones that we all must learn from, and take an honest look at our own lives in this new technological age.

Beautiful book

Another masterpiece, read beautifully by an excellent actor. Thank you for making this audiobook possible!

A performance well mach for such a master piece.

The reader is as good as it gets for the English translation. His superb understanding of the novel gives a this performance so much depth and lots of nuance. His voice has a resonance that very sensitive and train ears will welcom. I am very happy this rendition finally came to audio books. Well worth the waiting. ♡