Edited by Naomi Ritter, 1998. It was intended as a student's introduction to criticism, thus with discussions of various approaches, centered around the text of the novel, as well as complete essays by Rodney Symington, Lilian R. Furst, John Burt Foster Jr., Robert Tobin, and Russell A. Berman. Uses David Luke's 1988 translation.

When renowned author Gustave von Aschenbach, with uncharacteristic spontaneity, travels to Venice, his attention is captivated by a young boy whose blond curls and exquisite proportions seem to embody the Greek ideal of beauty. Watching Tadzio soon becomes the focus of Aschenbach’s days; and then, of his existence. On board the ship to Venice, Aschenbach looks on with horror as a simpering old man with a painted face mingles with a group of young men. But by the close of the story, Aschenbach has become that man, as, intoxicated, he pursues Tadzio through the passages and canals of an infected city. Death in Venice, as Mann maintained, is about the artist’s loss of dignity, but Mann also examines the relationship between art and life. Aschenbach believes that with labor and discipline he can master life and even mold it into art. But Tadzio’s Dionysus, inspring unstructured emotion and unruly passion, forces him to recognize the fallacy of that conviction. The mythical elements of the novel offer a context for the portrayal of homosexuality. Written with subtlety and profound psychological insight, Death in Venice is a vivid account of what it is like to fall in love.

The novella was perhaps Mann’s ideal artistic form (Death in Venice runs to a mere seventy pages): from the first hints of foreboding to the final pathetic climax, this is a masterwork of its genre. — Kate Briggs in 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die

Thanks so much for your donation Vasha!

This book is now part of the 1001-library. If you want to take this book from the library but don't know how to proceed, please refer to the 1001-library bookshelf.

To a member of the 1001-library.

Picked up this morning from the post office. Thanks a million, Vasha, for sending it my way and for replacing svoight's copy. I'll be sure to keep an eye out for wishlist books in my bookshop visits.

It's really impressing to have so many critical essays along with Thomas Mann's novella. It will surely help me get a wider view. Thanks again for your kindness, and happy reading!

I'm really grateful to have read this book. Von Aschenbach's path through Venice is the perfect mixture of mythology, philosophy, unattained idealistic love (or better idolatry), the invisible menace of an epidemic and eventually death itself, so sudden but so natural in the narration's course that it really didn't require more than a paragraph.

I particularly admired the references to Greek philosophy and mythology.

Having so many well-documented, critical opinions really helps in getting the best of a great book after reading it. Really worthwhile.

Reserved as a wishlist surprise for a 1001-library member, will most probably send out next week. Vasha, thanks again for sharing this with me.

dropped in the mail with safe-travel wishes :)

Thank you so much for this book! It's been on my wishlist for a while and I'm looking forward to reading it. I see it's a 1001 library book, I haven't requested it, but I will try and let it travel on when I finish it.

On its way to Katrinat who requested this book from the 1001-libary.

Thanks for sending this. I will get to it soon and then get it moving again

Thanks for sending this. I will get to it soon and then get it moving again