The Magic Mountain

The Magic Mountain is a novel by Thomas Mann. It was first published in Germany in November 1924. Since then, it has gone through numerous editions and been translated into many languages. It is widely considered a seminal work of 20th-century German literature, notable for its philosophical depth and exploration of themes such as time, illness, and modernity. Mann began to write The Magic Mountain in 1912. It was initially meant to be written as a novella that revisited aspects of Death in Venice (another Mann novel) in a humorous manner. The newer work reflected his experiences and impressions from a time when his wife, who was suffering from respiratory disease, resided at Dr. Friedrich Jessen's [de] Waldsanatorium in Davos, Switzerland. In numerous letters, which no longer exist, she wrote to her husband about everyday life in the sanatorium. During a three-week visit in May and June 1912, Mann obtained first-hand impressions and became acquainted with the team of doctors and patients. According to an afterword that was later included in the English translation of the novel, this stay inspired the opening chapter: 'Arrival'.