Geistige Lebensformen Thomas Manns topographische Darstellungstechnik und Josef Nadlers literaturgeschichtliches Raumkonzept

Abstract

Simone Costagli analyzes space representations and reflections in Thomas Mann's texts, starting from examples of topographical representations in his novels and from the geospatial concepts in his essay writings. The accurate reconstruction of concrete locations, which is often based on encyclopedias and other materials, results as the basis of space fictionalisations in his texts such as Felix Krull, Mario and The Magician and Doctor Faustus. The relation between literature and geography is reflected in his speech "Lübeck as spiritual form of life" with reference to Josef Nadler's theoretical model. Mann postulates a direct connection between the place of origin and the mental constitution of himself as a writer as a key principle of this speech. Such relationship relies upon Josef Nadler's deterministic concept of the influence of the pace of birth or origin on the writers' creativity.