75 pages • 2 hours read
Thomas MannBuddenbrooks
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1901A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Buddenbrooks by Thomas Mann charts the multi-generational story of the Buddenbrook family, a wealthy merchant family in 19th-century Lübeck, whose fortunes ebb as societal pressures and personal conflicts shape their lives, exploring themes like societal decline, family duty, and the clash between personal desires and inherited obligations. The narrative involves instances of mental health challenges, substance use, and family discord.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Buddenbrooks by Thomas Mann has been praised for its rich character development, keen social insights, and immersive depiction of a family's decline over generations. Critics laud its intricate narrative style but note its lengthy descriptions and slow pace may deter some readers. Overall, it's celebrated as a literary classic with deep psychological and societal exploration.
Who Should Read Buddenbrooks?
Fans of Buddenbrooks by Thomas Mann typically appreciate intricate family sagas and sociopolitical commentary set against a historical backdrop. If you enjoy classics like War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy or The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy, you'll likely find Mann's multi-generational tale of a German merchant family captivating.