false 4 0 false false Tue Nov 18 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Thu Sep 25 12:29:31 -0700 2008 Tue Nov 18 15:51:24 -0800 2008
What is mystifying about Death in Venice for me, is the context. For some reason, this book is accepted by German culture? The story revolves around an old man's forbidden homosexual attraction to a 12 year old boy. This, especially coming out of 40s Germany, is unreal. And it was hailed as brilliant in its time, as well!

Totally forgot to update this post-
ANYWAY

Death in Venice, and the excerpts I read from other stories, seem to focus on the struggles of excellence and the struggles of the artist. Mann seems to examine this from a few points of view- protagonists both young and old, and the characters he surrounds them with for contrast.

Is love the death of excellence and art? Or are excellence and art the birth and brilliance of real love?

Honestly, I may agree with critics in general- It seems as though Death in Venice is the quintessential Mann read, the capstone. The other stories are informative but not as compelling of protagonists (in my opin). Kinda like This Side of Paradise and The Great Gatsby. It's like the writer has found his form in Death in Venice, as well as his thesis. ]]>