Lübeck, December 3, 2024 – In honor of Thomas Mann's 150th birthday next year, Thomas Mann International, a coalition of globally active Thomas Mann institutions, is launching the initiative “Mann 2025: 150 Years of Thomas Mann.”

Timeless Relevance in Uncertain Times

Thomas Mann's work holds renewed significance in today’s era of global challenges. His 1943 speech to the U.S. Congress warning against the allure of irrationality remains strikingly relevant amid growing pressures on democratic values and processes worldwide. Caren Heuer, director of the Buddenbrookhaus in Lübeck, underscores this connection: “Mann’s passionate defense of democracy and his warnings against anti-democratic and totalitarian threats resonate powerfully today.”

A Multifaceted Exploration

The anniversary year sheds light on Mann in all his dimensions – as a citizen, artist, critic, exile, family man, and an enduring literary figure whose life and works have sparked decades of research and debate. Hans Wisskirchen, President of the German Thomas Mann Society, explains: “Our approach embraces the complexity of Mann’s legacy, inviting both celebration and critical engagement with the ‘Myth of Mann.’”

A Global Platform for Celebration

The website Mann2025.de serves as the central hub for anniversary events worldwide, offering information on readings, exhibitions, and discussions in both German and English. Jakob Scherer, Managing Director of the Thomas Mann House in Berlin and Los Angeles, emphasizes: “Our mission is to bring Mann’s literary and political legacy to a broad international audience without resorting to uncritical glorification.”

Accompanying Projects

• Blog: Essays, interviews, and multimedia content place Mann’s works in a modern context, sparking dialogue about their continued relevance.
• Poster Campaign: In collaboration with Thomas Mann Daily and S. Fischer Verlag, a series of posters featuring witty quotes from Mann’s diaries will be displayed at cultural landmarks.

Call for Participation

Institutions worldwide are invited to register their events on Mann2025.de and use the official anniversary logo. The platform fosters international collaboration and amplifies the visibility of individual celebrations.

About Thomas Mann International

Thomas Mann International unites renowned Thomas Mann institutions, including the Buddenbrookhaus in Lübeck, Monacensia at Hildebrandhaus in Munich, the Thomas-Mann-Archiv at ETH Library Zurich, the Thomas Mann House in Los Angeles, and the Thomo Manno Kultūros Centras in Lithuania. Partners also include S. Fischer Verlag and the German Thomas Mann Society.