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From one of today’s most brilliant and beloved novelists, a dazzling, epic family saga set across a half-century spanning World War I, the rise of Hitler, World War II, and the Cold War.

Colm Tóibín’s magnificent new novel opens in a provincial German city at the turn of the twentieth century, where the boy, Thomas Mann, grows up with a conservative father, bound by propriety, and a Brazilian mother, alluring and unpredictable. Young Mann hides his artistic aspirations from his father and his homosexual desires from everyone. He is infatuated with one of the richest, most cultured Jewish families in Munich, and marries the daughter Katia. They have six children. On a holiday in Italy, he longs for a boy he sees on a beach and writes the story Death in Venice. He is the most successful novelist of his time, winner of the Nobel Prize in literature, a public man whose private life remains secret. He is expected to lead the condemnation of Hitler, whom he underestimates. His oldest daughter and son, leaders of Bohemianism and of the anti-Nazi movement, share lovers. He flees Germany for Switzerland, France and, ultimately, America, living first in Princeton and then in Los Angeles.

In a stunning marriage of research and imagination, Tóibín explores the heart and mind of a writer whose gift is unparalleled and whose life is driven by a need to belong and the anguish of illicit desire. The Magician is an intimate, astonishingly complex portrait of Mann, his magnificent and complex wife Katia, and the times in which they lived—the first world war, the rise of Hitler, World War II, the Cold War, and exile. This is a man and a family fiercely engaged by the world, profoundly flawed, and unforgettable. As People magazine said about The Master, “It’s a delicate, mysterious process, this act of creation, fraught with psychological tension, and Tóibín captures it beautifully.”

Title: The Magician: A Novel

Author: Colm Tóibín

Genre: Historical Fiction, Bildungsroman

Publication Date: 2021

Synopsis: In the tumultuous years leading up to World War II, The Magician tells the story of Thomas Mann, one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century. As the Nazi Party rises to power in Germany, Mann finds himself increasingly at odds with the political landscape. Despite the personal risks, he refuses to remain silent in the face of tyranny. He embarks on a dangerous journey across Europe, using his literary genius to expose the horrors of fascism and champion the cause of freedom.

Main Characters:

• Thomas Mann: A renowned German writer and Nobel laureate, known for his insightful and thought-provoking novels.
• Katia Mann: Thomas Mann's wife, a strong and intelligent woman who supports her husband's literary pursuits.
• Klaus Mann: Thomas Mann's eldest son, a talented writer who struggles to find his own voice in the shadow of his father's legacy.
• Erika Mann: Thomas Mann's daughter, a passionate and outspoken activist who uses her platform to fight against injustice.

Themes:

• The power of literature in times of political upheaval.
• The conflict between artistic integrity and political engagement.
• The complex relationship between fathers and sons.
• The impact of war and exile on individuals and families.

Why You Should Read It:

The Magician: A Novel is a sweeping and thought-provoking historical fiction that offers a unique perspective on one of the most turbulent periods in modern history. Colm Tóibín's masterful storytelling brings to life the characters and events of this era, creating a vivid and unforgettable narrative. The novel is a must-read for anyone interested in literature, history, or the human condition.