Non solo Gregor Gregori e Hendrik Höfgen. Treffpunkt im Unendlichen e Mephisto. Roman einer Karriere di Klaus Mann

Abstract

Between the publication of Treffpunkt im Unendlichen (1932) and that of Mephisto. Roman einer Karriere (1936), we witness the rise of National Socialism and Klaus Mann’s consequent exile. Although the two above-mentioned novels are characterised by marked differences which are connected in the first place with Mann’s life experience and its impact on his relationship with art and politics, they also present several points of contact. These do not concern simply the parallelism between Gregor Gregori, the dancer of Treffpunkt im Unendlichen, and Hendrik Höfgen, the actor of Mephisto; indeed, an interesting comparative study may also be developed in order to reflect on certain similarities between the two texts, especially as regards the whole constellation of characters and the main thematic clusters of the two texts.