European Literature Society

13^th March 2024

The ‘European Literature Society’ have finished reading the infamous novella ‘Death in Venice’ by Thomas Mann. The death in the title was always hanging over this book, and when it came, it raised as many questions as it answered. We wondered at whether we should feel any sympathy for the aging protagonist – Gustav Aschenbach – as he ‘sinks deeper and deeper into the mire’ of his obsession and his fear of death. There was never any hope for Aschenbach in this story, but does Mann hold out any hope for the reader of 1912, with the shadow of war hanging over Europe, a Europe at risk of being lost forever?

Next Meeting – Tuesday 16^th April in Room 24 at 3.00

Mr Ahern