Historical context
On 25 July 1949, Thomas Mann accepted the Goethe Prize of the City of Frankfurt. Since 1927, this prize has been awarded to people who have distinguished themselves through outstanding achievements in art, literature or science and have thus acted in the spirit of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Thomas Mann, one of the most important German writers of the 20th century, received this award in recognition of his literary work, which includes the novels “Buddenbrooks”, “The Magic Mountain” and “Doctor Faustus”. The Goethe Prize is a significant honour that recognises Mann’s influence and importance in the German and international literary world.