Klaus Mann - A European-American Author

This book explores the German and English writings of Klaus Mann on America and for an American public. It focuses on his magazine Decision, his autobiographies The Turning Point and Der Wendepunkt, and his fictional works, including Speed, Der Vulkan, and The Last Day. It proposes a portrait of the author as an indefatigable cultural mediator.

Klaus Mann (1906-1949) was a prolific author who engaged in constantly different fields, from journalism to novels, plays and autobiographies. An exile in the United States, he had to reinvent himself as an Anglophone author.

This publication sets out to present a new portrait of Klaus Mann as a cultural mediator between Europe and America, starting from his own definition of himself as an American author of European tradition and cosmopolitan mentality. It primarily focuses on his lesser-known and unpublished works, including his second attempt at an exile journal, Decision, his American and German autobiographies, The Turning Point and Der Wendepunkt, and his attempts at incorporating American characters and plots into his fiction.

Autorentext

Chiara Marotta studied Italian literature and European literary cultures at the University of Bologna and the University of Strasbourg. Her research interests include exile literature, autobiographical writing, and bilingualism.

Inhalt

Exile Literature German Emigration Self-Translation America Mediation The Turning Point Der Wendepunkt Speed The Last Day Der Vulkan Decision Distinguished Visitors Rundherum The Seventh Angel Der siebente Engel Gegenüber von China Exile Autobiography Language Switch Language Choice New York American Landscape Innere Exilgeographie