Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Book Reviews of Death in Venice and Seven Other Stories

Death in Venice and Seven Other Stories
Death in Venice and Seven Other Stories
Author: Thomas Mann
ISBN-13: 9780394700038
ISBN-10: 0394700031
Publication Date: 9/12/1954
Rating:
  • Currently 3.9/5 Stars.
 4

3.9 stars, based on 4 ratings
Publisher: Vintage
Book Type: Paperback
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

2 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

reviewed Death in Venice and Seven Other Stories on + 34 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Gustav von Aschenbach, an aging and dying composer who suffers from hallucinations, is vacationing in Venice when he is mesmerized by the pure beauty and innocence of a young boy. He finds solace and comfort in it during his last days, though the boy is never aware of the composer. It is a bittersweet tale but nevertheless gracefully written.

"You cannot reach the spirit with the senses. You cannot. It's only by complete domination of the senses that you can ever achieve wisdom, truth, and human dignity."

There is also a movie adapted from the story, made in 1971 and directed by Luchino Visconti.
reviewed Death in Venice and Seven Other Stories on + 813 more book reviews
Contains stories of about 40 page duration, with some overlap (two stories). Themes based upon the artist (in a broad sense) run throughout the stories. Some stories are entertaining, others take a while to get into them, others are downright boring.