This audio release contains three radio adaptations of German author Thomas Mann's most celebrated works.
‘Buddenbrooks', published in 1901, is Mann's first novel. He was only twenty-five, but had already demonstrated a maturity and considerable literary flair. The sweeping family drama follows four generations of the Buddenbrook family, wealthy merchants in 19th-century Lübeck, charting its rise and gradual decline. The absence of a lead character is perhaps why, out of the three recordings included in this release, it is the hardest to get into. There are a lot of characters, and at times, the action is subtle rather than exhilarating. The story unfolds over decades and spends a lot of time on daily life, business matters and family rituals. Running to almost six hours, ‘Buddenbrooks' takes up around two thirds of the listening time.
However, patient listeners are rewarded, and gradually drawn in to the story by the quality of the actors. Timothy Spall (‘Auf Wiedersehen, Pet') brings his trademark gravitas and humanity to the family patriarch, capturing both the authority and vulnerability of a man trying to hold together a fading legacy. Meanwhile Harriet Walter, who has been on a rich run of form lately with standout roles in ‘Succession', ‘Ted Lasso' and ‘Silo', lends warmth and intelligence to her role of Antonie, or ‘Tony', delivering a performance that conveys the emotional undercurrents of Mann’s world with subtle precision. They are ably supported by Angela Pleasence and Gudrun Ure (whom I remember with great affection as ‘Super Gran' when I was a child). For listeners new to Mann’s work, this production offers an accessible gateway into one of European literature’s great family sagas.
The next production, ‘Death in Venice', is a much better-known story. Mann's novella is short and accessible. Visconti's cinematic version, which turned former British matinee idol Dirk Bogarde into a revered art house actor, is undoubtedly the towering adaptation. But there are some ways in which it deviates from Mann's work, such as in making Gustav von Aschenbach a classical composer.
This audio adaptation returns to Mann's concept and presents von Aschenbach as a writer struggling to find his muse. On a trip to Venice, staying in a luxury hotel, he catches sight of a young and strikingly beautiful Polish boy, Tadzio. The writer's admiration darkens into an intense obsession. Even when an outbreak of cholera becomes apparent, von Aschenbach cannot bring himself to leave Venice, fearing what would become of Tadzio.
The role of von Aschenbach is played by Clive Francis, an actor I have long admired for his sympathetic performance as ‘The Man With the Twisted Lip' in Granada Television's adaptation of the ‘Sherlock Holmes' short story. In that episode, he played ‘Boon', the beggar, with great pathos. More recently in ‘Bridgerton' as Lord Holley, Francis is a steadily-employed actor with a strong voice. He wisely makes no attempt to copy Bogarde's iconic portrayal of von Aschenbach, but makes the part his own. In the second episode, descending into madness and fits of euphoria, Francis is especially impressive. He gives a vivid yet controlled depiction of a man losing his grip on reality. With few other actors in it, or speaking for long, it is very much Francis's show, and he certainly delivers.
The third and final story on this release is ‘The Magic Mountain', Thomas Mann's 1924 novel. With philosophical ideas about time and mortality, it is recognisably part of Mann's oeuvre.
Hans Castorp, a young German engineer, travels to a tuberculosis sanatorium high in the Swiss Alps near Davos to visit his cousin, Joachim Ziemssen. But, in a theme reminiscent of ‘Death in Venice', he soon exhibits symptoms of the sickness, not least delirium. He is persuaded to stay for longer. All of a sudden, time has no meaning and years bleed by. During his stay at the sanatorium, he mixes with some extraordinary characters, such as confirmed Italian atheist Lodovico Settembrini and his nemesis Leo Naphtha (a conflict that ramps up as the story progresses) while he falls in love with the Russian patient Claudia Chauchat.
This BBC adaptation is superb, capturing the essence of Mann's thoughtful story, but turning it into compelling audio drama. There are terrific performances, especially from Clive Merrison as Settembrini, who brings a comic relish to his part. It is narrated by celebrated stage actor Paul Schofield (who played the ghostly father in Mel Gibson's ‘Hamlet'). First appearing in 2001, this segment rounds out a trio of excellent adaptations that do full justice to Mann's novels.
All three adaptations contained in this release are thoughtful and superbly-produced and performed. They do justice to the masterworks of one of Germany's most celebrated authors. This collection of radio plays is a wonderful way to explore the world of Thomas Mann and comes strongly recommended.
Cast: Terence Edmonds, Harriet Walter, James Laurenson, Timothy Spall, Clive Francis, Peter England, Paul Schofield, Clive Merrison Publisher: Penguin Random House UK audio Publication date: 8th January 2026 Buy ‘Thomas Mann: Buddenbrooks, Death in Venice, The Magic Mountain'
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