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Thomas Mann

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:2,000.00 - 3,000.00 USD
Thomas Mann

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Auction Date:2015 May 13 @ 18:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:236 Commercial St., Suite 100, Boston, Massachusetts, 02109, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
TLS, one page, 7.25 x 10.75, personal letterhead, August 5, 1942. Letter to Franklin Rouda at Harvard University. In part: “You ask me whether the author is willing to vouch for the reality of the scene in question. Of necessity, the answer for that must be somewhat fluid and follow a middle course between yes and no...When I wrote those chapters of the Magic Mountain I was under the influence of personal experiences which I had at the occultistic experimental sessions of the famous late occultist, Dr. Schrenk-Notzing in Munich. Personally, I have learned that there is something true and undeniable to the occult sphere which does not prevent me, however, from regarding it as spiritually uninteresting and unworthy of human exploration…The hero of my novel stumbles into this dubious atmosphere influenced by the rather unsympathetic figure of Dr. Krokowski, and you have seen how he finally reacts to it—with a certain moral indignation he interrupts the session and walks out…he reacts to it with a certain disgust which the author visibly shares, and will certainly never agree again to such experiments with his soul or his subconscious.” Affixed to a same-size sheet. In fine condition, with trimmed edge. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope and an unsigned magazine photo. First published in 1924, The Magic Mountain was one of Mann’s most influential works and famously ambiguous. He was aware of its complexities and hesitant to comment much on it, thus the ambiguity of this response. As it concerns the intricacies and origins of his masterpiece, this letter offers exceedingly desirable content.