Hendrik Hofgen is a man obsessed with becoming a famous actor. When the Nazis come to power in Germany, he willingly renounces his Communist past and deserts his wife and mistress in order to keep on performing. His diabolical performance as Mephistopheles in Faust proves to be the stepping-stone he yearned for: attracting the attention of Hermann Göring, it wins Hofgen an appointment as head of the State Theatre. The rewards – the respect of the public, a castle-like villa, a uplace in Berlin's highest circles – are beyond his wildest dreams. But the moral consequences of his betrayals begin to haunt him, turning his dreamworld into a nightmare.
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About the Author
Klaus Mann, the second child of Thomas Mann, was born in Munich in 1906. He began writing short stories and articles in 1924 and within a year was a theatrical critic for a Berlin newspaper. In 1925 both a volume of his short stories and his first novel, The Pious Dance, were published. His sister Erika, to whom he was very close, was in the cast of his first play, Anja and Esther. He also acted a continued to write prolifically. Klaus Mann left Germany in 1933 and lived in Amsterdam until 1936, during which time he became a Czechoslovakian citizen, having been deprived of his German citizenship by the Nazis. Moving to the United States in 1936, he lived in Princeton, New Jersey, and New York City. He became a U.S. citizen in 1943. He died in 1949, at the age of forty-two, in Cannes, France.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Mas,
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This review is from: Mephisto (Classic, 20th-Century, Penguin) (Paperback)
this book is a great read. i really loved the way the mephisto mythical story was told through the eyes of the protaganist. i also really enjoyed how the ruling party at the time was referred to as the devil. a very progressive story for its time.
12 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Murderer's Fool,
By Eva M. (Switzerland) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Mephisto (Classic, 20th-Century, Penguin) (Paperback)
An absolutely fascinating book. The actor Hendrik Höfgen becomes the symbol of the "untrue, unreal regime" by selling all his higher ideals to the mith of fame, subsquently loosing himself in the process. Many things are extraordinary about this book: - Klaus Man wrote the book in 1936, never the less in reading it I felt he new exactly what was going to happen in Germany (and Europe) and the bitter end it would take. - The way the stage figure Höfgen parallels the political development of Germany. (In one scene he is attemting to figure out how he will play Hamlet and quarrels with the vision of the Dane. Mephisto-Höfgen is not able to grasp the role, for he has not suffered for his ideals, he cannot understand a Hamlet. He no longer can think that way.) - ... It is in deed hard to describe this book... But I find it a must for everyone interested in theatre and how "free" art can be. May be. Should be. Could be.
9 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mephisto,THE BEST,
By "fr0sh" (Recife,Brasil) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Mephisto (Classic, 20th-Century, Penguin) (Paperback)
this book is one of the best books that a ever read,Klaus mann create a very good atmosfere,and very well,cuz he was inspired by real people or friends and than create those personages,VERY very very well made book and for sure,very sadly..Why Sadly? the book just relates NAZY GERMAN at all,doesn't realate the NEW GERMANY.I know the book was wrote at this date but klaus mann doesn't use nothing to relate some imaginere future of GERMANY..just the presente and the presente... Why I GIVE 5 STARS for a Germany strange and deep complexo book?? VERY SIMPLE,The sarcasm that klaus mann use is so funny and even so real that make me laugh at times,the personages are very well made,The nazy party are well related(NOT AT ALL).. Conclusion: AVOID THIS one if you don't like GERMANY or World histoy or hate actors feelings or book...But if you want a book that show really how the germany was in 1936 to 1940,with excelent characters,complex and Very deep history,so this book is for you,and i'm sure that you won't be disappointed PS: my english is very poor now,i will incrise thankz
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
The last year of the world war and the year immediately following the November revolution in Russia were a great period for the avant-garde theater in Germany, despite the country's severe economic difficulties. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
revolutionary theater, Café du Dôme, green boots Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Hendrik Höfgen, Dora Martin, Lotte Lindenthal, Princess Tebab, Otto Ulrichs, Frau von Herzfeld, State Theater, Hans Miklas, Caesar von Muck, Frau Bella, Herr Höfgen, Theophilus Marder, Pierre Larue, National Socialist, Arts Theater, Fräulein Lindenthal, Hendrik Hall, Fräulein Motz, Fräulein Bernhard, Frau Efeu, Rahel Mohrenwitz, Herr Knurr, Angelika Siebert, Stormy Petrel, Privy Councillor Bruckner Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
The last year of the world war and the year immediately following the November revolution in Russia were a great period for the avant-garde theater in Germany, despite the country's severe economic difficulties. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
revolutionary theater, Café du Dôme, green boots Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Hendrik Höfgen, Dora Martin, Lotte Lindenthal, Princess Tebab, Otto Ulrichs, Frau von Herzfeld, State Theater, Hans Miklas, Caesar von Muck, Frau Bella, Herr Höfgen, Theophilus Marder, Pierre Larue, National Socialist, Arts Theater, Fräulein Lindenthal, Hendrik Hall, Fräulein Motz, Fräulein Bernhard, Frau Efeu, Rahel Mohrenwitz, Herr Knurr, Angelika Siebert, Stormy Petrel, Privy Councillor Bruckner Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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