Thomas Mann began writing his novel Lotte in Weimar in September 1936 while in Zurich. The starting point is a historic encounter: 44 years after the publication of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s The Sorrows of Young Werther, Goethe is said to have reunited with his childhood sweetheart Charlotte Kestner in Weimar in the autumn of 1816. The event brings about both whimsical and serious discussions between the novel’s characters, Goethe, Councilor Charlotte Kestner and their contemporaries, including Goethe’s son August, Ottilie von Pogwisch, Mager the waiter and Doctor Riemer.

During his period of exile in America, Mann continued his intense study of Goethe and arranged his novel around the reunion of the former lovers. The plot is frequently interspersed with monologues in which Goethe reflects on Germany, such as when he represents a better Germany in his text, implicitly seizing on themes of exile as well: “They think they are Germany – but I am [...].”

While in exile, the novel could only be published under difficult conditions by Bermann-Fischer, the exile publisher in Stockholm. The cover of the first edition was nevertheless designed by Yngve Berg in the standard style of book covers at the time. Aside from an anonymous diatribe most likely written by Emil Ludwig, Thomas Mann received mostly positive critiques for his Goethe novel. These include a glowing review by Stefan Zweig.

Ausgaben:
Thomas Mann: Lotte in Weimar. Stockholm: Bermann-Fischer 1939
Thomas Mann: Lotte in Weimar. Text und Kommentar. Große kommentierte Frankfurter Ausgabe in zwei Bänden. Frankfurt am Main: S. Fischer 2003