Meeting point in infinity

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The meeting point in the infinite is the third novel by Klaus Mann , which was first published in 1932 by S. Fischer in Berlin.

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The meeting point in the infinite is the most important literary work by Klaus Mann before his exile . The novel paints a fascinating picture of the "lost generation" in Germany shortly before Hitler came to power . He describes the life of young people between longing and despair, political rebellion and the escape from everyday life. It comprises three main strands drawn from the author's world of experience: drugs, suicide, and love. In the characters Sebastian and Sonja the reader recognizes traits of the author and his sister Erika . The demonic Dr. In some descriptions Massis is reminiscent of the writer Gottfried Benn , and in the figure of the dancer Gregor Gregori, Klaus Mann characterizes a forerunner of his career-obsessed “ Mephisto ” hero Hendrik Höfgen.

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Hermann Hesse criticized in the Neue Rundschau of May 1933 (vol. 64, no. 5, pp. 698-700), without mentioning the book title, that the hero of the novel Sebastian lived in hotel room number eleven, shortly afterwards it was number twelve and assessed: "The" pretty "book is written for the day, for the moment", and "suddenly the whole book loses its inner weight, responsibility, authenticity and substance, all because of this stupid number twelve". The publisher Samuel Fischer , however, said that the meeting point in the infinite was this author's “first real book”.

In an afterword to the new edition, Klaus Mann connoisseur Fredric Kroll informs about the origin and background of the novel.

Literature and Sources

  • Klaus Mann: Meeting point in infinity. Roman (= Rororo 22377). With an afterword by Fredric Kroll . New edition. Rowohlt-Taschenbuch-Verlag, Reinbek near Hamburg 1998, ISBN 3-499-22377-5 .
  • Uwe Naumann: Klaus Mann (= Rororo 50695 Rowohlt's monograph ). Revised new edition. Rowohlt-Taschenbuch-Verlag, Reinbek near Hamburg 2006, ISBN 3-499-50695-5 .

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