Heinrich Mann: The development of the 'sociocritical' novel to a 'political' novel in the early work

In the beginning of the 20th century numerous changes in the social, economic and political level flow together. In the ambivalent spirit of end time and break-up different trends of literature are unfolded. For the young Heinrich Mann these processes continue in his early work as a writer and qualify for interpretation and the hope to overcome the Fin de siécle trend. The selected novels of this work „Im Schlaraffenland – Ein Roman unter feinen Leuten” (1900), „Professor Unrat oder Das Ende eines Tyrannen” (1904) and „Die Kleine Stadt“ (1909) represent the development of this intention. At first they appear as a satirical criticism of the society and later in the second half of the decade as a draft for a democratic society. In the following the former novels „Im Schlaraffenland” and „Professor Unrat” are mentioned without subheading. This work shall point out the very development phase of Heinrich Mann between 1900 and 1909 until the beginning of his political writing. ...