Heinrich Mann

Born in Lübeck in 1871, Heinrich Mann came from the remarkable Mann family of writers and was the older brother of Thomas Mann. He worked in publishing before devoting himself to literature, building a reputation as a novelist and essayist with a strong interest in politics, society, and the abuses of power.

His fiction often attacked hypocrisy, militarism, and obedience to authority. Among his most noted works are Professor Unrat and The Loyal Subject, novels remembered for their biting satire and their clear-eyed view of German society in the years before the First World War.

Mann was also an outspoken opponent of fascism. After the Nazis came to power, he went into exile, living first in Europe and later in the United States. He died in Santa Monica, California, in 1950, leaving behind work that still stands out for its moral energy and political courage.