French Literature Reviews - 2026
Th. Mann, This War
History, Politics and Society
Thomas Mann, This War
Previously unpublished. Translated with an afterword by Hélène Boisson.
Paris: Éditions Yago, "Ciel ouvert" series, 2012.
100 p.
EAN 9782916209920
12.00 EUR
Publisher's Overview:
Thomas Mann had anticipated the rise of Nazism as early as 1930 with the publication of Mario and the Magician, predicting its inevitable failure from the very outset. Living in exile first in Great Britain and later in the United States, he never ceased his struggle against National Socialism while calling upon his compatriots to feel moral outrage. From the outbreak of the Second World War until May 1945, he delivered numerous lectures and famous radio broadcasts from exile. With This War (Dieser Krieg), published in New York (Knopf) and then in London (Secker & Warburg) in 1940, he entered the fray with flair, earning his stripes as a master pamphleteer. This propaganda text, written to rouse the German people and unmask the true face of the Nazi regime, is remarkable both for its energetic style and the depth of its reflections.
Beyond its testimonial value and significance for literary history, This War addresses themes that remain strikingly relevant today. The direction of history, the meaning (and necessity) of European unity, the question of political responsibility, and Germany's place among the community of nations are all burning issues in a Europe facing crisis. In many respects, This War puts forward a vision of Europe that appears prophetic—an essential read for every European. First time published in France.
Published during the Second World War while the author lived in exile, This War reflects Thomas Manns sustained public engagement against National Socialism through radio broadcasts and essays. This propaganda text joins a long tradition of politically engaged literature in which European intellectuals sought to rouse public conscience against totalitarianism. The work stands alongside his earlier warnings regarding the rise of the Nazi regime, notably Mario and the Magician, continuing his critique of political extremism and moral failure.
The texts themes include the direction of history, European unity, political responsibility, and the position of Germany among nations. These topics connect the historical context of the Second World War with enduring debates concerning international politics and collective responsibility. Readers interested in twentieth-century intellectual history, exile literature, or European political thought may find this work relevant to contemporary discussions on crisis and integration.
Read an excerpt and its presentation by Le Magazine littéraire: http://www.editions-yago.com/Mag-litteraire_Mann.pdf