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: I can't get enough of these three geniuses' works. Each are deep divers, exploring myriad perspectives and philosophies while presenting their personal synthetic world views. Mann is the most polished, perhaps because he projects more detachment to his subject--his style is exactly what he describes as those of Kroeger and Aschenbach. : Lots of folks moan about these guys. Evident here are the pot-shots against Mann. I guess one has to have a predilection and sympathy for his themes and presentation. For me, it was the idee-fixe of music and music drama--the use of a "musical" form in his writing, and use of literary leitmotif. His writing is not bad--the individual understanding of his detractors is wanting: just as it is in those who disparage Melville and Mahler. No offense--they just had different perspectives than those who don't like them. "Tonio Kroger is the worst book ever" says more about the person who posts it than it does about Mann or his novella. : Little Herr Friedemann doesn't stand up to multiple readings. Kroeger, Venice, Buddenbrooks, Magic Mountain, Joseph and His Brothers do. Moby-, The Confidence Man(n), Pierre: better the fifth time than the fourth. Mahler's symphonies: Mann and Melville in sound.

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