tkm1112 's review for:

Buddenbrooks: The Decline of a Family by Thomas Mann

4.0

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Other than All Quiet on the Western Front, this is the only German translated book that I have read. The story flows well and I thought some of the underlying themes (anxiety, self sacrifice, and vanity) made it more interesting. It also starts to paint the picture of how the rise of industry and commerce eventually led to the slow death aristocracy and the monarchy. Even though it was touched on lightly, it made me curious about the differences of the regions of Germany (mostly north versus south). And though Mann left the theme of war out of the story, I’m more intrigued about what part Germany played in the unrest between parts of Europe and Russia.