Erika and Klaus Mann: Living with America

Erika and Klaus Mann's book, Living with America, provides insights into their lives in America, focusing on their years in exile and their fight against Nazism. The study examines their public and private statements, American public opinion, and government policy, and follows their rise as celebrity representatives of a better Germany. It also portrays their war activities and their fears for America as the war drew to a close.

Format: Hardback
Length: 552 pages
Publication date: 19 February 2018
Publisher: Peter Lang Publishing Inc

Erika and Klaus Mann: Living with America offers fresh perspectives on the lives of Thomas Mann's two eldest children, delving into their years in the United States. The book commences with their self-promotional tour of the United States in 1927-1928 and subsequently follows their return in 1936 as voluntary exiles, driven by their determination to combat the spread of Nazism in Europe. Born into privilege and possessing remarkable personal charm, Erika and Klaus Mann swiftly emerged as prominent figures within the German exile community.

The United States assumes a pivotal role in scrutinizing their lives in America. Similarly, the Manns' views of America underwent a transformation between 1936 and 1952, mirroring the shifting attitudes of the American public and government policies. This study explores a comprehensive examination of Erika and Klaus Mann's public and private statements, alongside the perspectives offered by American journalists, politicians, book critics, and F.B.I. and immigration officers. It traces the siblings' ascent to celebrity status in America as representatives of a superior Germany, while also documenting the growing opposition they faced even before the outbreak of World War II. The book vividly portrays the Mann siblings' efforts to persuade Americans to align their country with European interests, highlighting their various wartime activities. Erika assumes the role of a U.S. war correspondent, while Klaus serves as an American soldier. Finally, the book captures their apprehensions about America as the war drew to a close, with the deployment of the atom bomb and the swift transformation of the nation from a Russian ally to a Cold War combatant.

Living with America provides a captivating account of the Mann siblings' lives in America, shedding light on their experiences, relationships, and contributions to both German and American society during a pivotal period in history.

Weight: 874g
Dimension: 230 x 156 x 35 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781433142161
Edition number: New ed