Correspondence 1925-1935
A dialogue between literary tradition and modernist aesthetics
Alban Berg author Theodor W Adorno author Wieland Hoban translator Henri Lonitz editor
Format:Hardback
Publisher:John Wiley and Sons Ltd
Published:4th Oct '05
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
This collection of letters reveals the dynamic interplay between Adorno and Mann, showcasing their intellectual exchange and personal reflections during a transformative period.
The correspondence between Theodor Adorno and Thomas Mann captures a unique intersection of creative thought, blending literary tradition with modernist aesthetics from 1943 to 1955. This collection of letters provides readers with a profound glimpse into the intellectual lives of two of the most influential figures of the twentieth century. In December 1945, Mann reached out to Adorno, articulating the principles of montage that would shape his novel Doctor Faustus. He invited Adorno to collaborate on the realization of the fictional composer Leverkühn's works, leading to a rich exchange of ideas that would inform their subsequent correspondence.
As their letters unfolded, a dynamic tension emerged, reflecting the ongoing dialogue between established literary conventions and the evolving landscape of modernism. Mann expressed his admiration for Adorno's Minima Moralia and eagerly engaged with his thoughts on Wagner, comparing the experience to the sweetness of a book described in the Book of Revelation. Adorno reciprocated with insightful critiques and praise for Mann's later works, including The Holy Sinner and The Confessions of Felix Krull. Their correspondence also delved into personal matters, notably the complexities surrounding the return from exile to a postwar Germany.
Extensively annotated, this volume not only preserves their intellectual exchanges but also provides context for the myriad references made throughout their letters, enriching the reader's understanding of the historical and cultural backdrop that influenced their discussions. Correspondence 1925-1935 serves as a testament to the enduring impact of their dialogue.
"These letters provide us with a unique overview of the period and offer interesting and enlightening perspectives on even mundane aspects of daily life, as well as bringing us closer to the characters in question by allowing us a special insight into thir peculiar foibles and eccentricities."
Musical Times
"Major composers who befriend major philosophers, and vice-versa, are hardly numerous in the history of Western culture. Alban Berg's relationship with Theodor W. Adorno as teacher and colleague ranks with that between Richard Wagner and Friedrich Nietzsche, with the difference that Berg's and Adorno's genuine affection for each other, and their magnificent insight into each other’s work, remained constant to the end. Their correspondence is one of the landmarks of the early twentieth century and its music – a beacon of light in desperate times."
John Deathridge, King’s College London
"Sensitively translated and skillfully edited, the Adorno-Berg Correspondence represents scholarship eminently worthy of this extraordinary collection of letters between two twentieth-century intellectual-artistic giants. Adorno's composition lessons with Berg lasted for only a few months, but the impact transformed his understanding of modern music in particular and aesthetics in general. Berg, in turn, respected his pupil’s abilities as a composer, just as he clearly benefited, both intellectually and emotionally, from young Adorno’s profound insight into his master’s music. Though separated in age by nearly two decades, the two men formed a relationship born of deep affection and still deeper shared respect that lasted until Berg's untimely and sudden death. The collected correspondence makes available for the first time in English a body of texts that will add significantly to our understanding of Adorno and Berg as well as their breathtaking accomplishments."
Richard Leppert, University of Minnesota
ISBN: 9780745623351
Dimensions: 231mm x 160mm x 33mm
Weight: 567g
168 pages