Faszination Thomas Mann

In the organizer's words:

On June 6, 2025, Thomas Mann, one of the most important writers of the 20th century, would have celebrated his 150th birthday. To mark the occasion, the Monacensia is hosting a special celebratory program with a guided tour, archive exhibition and the participatory format "Mitgebracht! - Thomas Mann in personal objects".

15:00, location: Guided tour of the permanent exhibition on the first floor

Literary Munich at the time of Thomas Mann. Guided tour on the 150th birthday

In 1894, the then 19-year-old Thomas Mann moved from Lübeck to Munich. The city was his place to write and live for almost four decades: he started a family here and established himself as a successful writer. At the time of the National Socialists' seizure of power in 1933, Thomas Mann was on a lecture tour abroad. In view of the political developments, he had to decide not to return to Germany and Munich.

The permanent exhibition "Literary Munich in the Time of Thomas Mann" uses the leading figure Thomas Mann to explore the question of what constitutes literary Munich in the field of tension between Hitler's "capital of the movement" and Schwabing bohemia.

4.15 pm, venue: Forum Atelier

"Brought along!" - Thomas Mann in personal objects

What does Thomas Mann mean to you? Do you have a personal memento that you associate with his work or his person?

Whether it's a school edition of Death in Venice or an original Mann autograph - the Monacensia cordially invites you to bring along your personal Thomas Mann memorabilia, present it and get into conversation with others.

With: Marion Bösker-von Paucker (Literaturhaus München), Dirk Heißerer (Thomas-Mann-Forum e.V.) and Theresa Schlesinger (Münchner Kammerspiele)

Would you like to present your memorabilia on stage? Write to: monacensia.programm(at)muenchen.de

5.15 pm, Location: Salon Hildebrand

Thomas Mann in the literary archive

As an important research center for the Mann family, the Monacensia has one of the largest collections of Thomas Mann's autographs. Among them is the manuscript of Fiorenza, which is considered the only completed drama in Thomas Mann's oeuvre. In 1924, Mann personally donated the handwritten manuscript to the director of the Munich City Library, Hans Ludwig Held, for the newly founded manuscript department of the Munich City Library.

Archive director Thomas Schütte will present Fiorenza and other selected items in an exclusive archive show.

Afterwards, the Monacensia invites you to enjoy cool drinks in the garden!

Free admission / registration only for the guided tour