"Louisey” (“Luischen” in German-published in 1900 - A Short Story by Thomas Mann- translated from the German by Damion Searls - 2023

 German Literature Month is hosted by Lizzy’s Literary Life

https://lizzysiddal2.wordpress.com/2023/09/22/announcing-german-literature-month-xiii/

This is my 12th year of  Participation in this great international event.

This year movies by German directors are a part of the event.

Works I have so far featured for German Literature XIII 

1.  Chaotic World and Childhood SorrowsA Short Story by Thomas Mann - 1924

2. Aguirre, the Wrath of God - A Film- Directed by Werner Herzog- 1972 

3. Triumph of the Will - A Film Directed by Leni Riefenstahl- 1936

4. The Blue Angel- A 1930 Film Directed by Joseph Sternberg 

Today I am featuring Thomas Mann’s first published short story, " Louisey", initially published in 1900.  The story line struck me as if it would be appropriate for an expression era German film, heavily melodramatic with a shocking conclusion.

In the small, stifling town of Lübeck, nestled amidst the rolling hills and dense forests of northern Germany, lived a peculiar couple named Jacob and Anna Margite Rosa Amelia Jacoby. Their marriage, an oddity even in the realm of human relationships, was a perplexing puzzle to all who knew them. Some whispered of a love match gone sour, while others speculated about a hidden arrangement of convenience. Regardless of the truth, the Jacobs' union was a spectacle of contradictions, a comedy of errors played out behind the closed doors of their grand townhouse.

Jacob Jacoby, a man of portly stature and perpetually furrowed brow, was a respected attorney, known for his sharp intellect and unwavering dedication to the law. Anna Margite Rosa Amelia Jacoby, on the other hand, was a vivacious socialite, a whirlwind of laughter and charm, always seeking the next thrill or amusement. Their personalities were like oil and water, their interests as different as night and day. Yet, they remained bound together, their lives intertwined in a web of unspoken resentments and unspoken desires.

Their home, a grand edifice of red brick and ornate carvings, reflected the duality of their existence. The front rooms, adorned with fine furniture and exquisite works of art, exuded an air of sophistication and refinement. But behind the closed doors of their private quarters, the atmosphere was altogether different. Their bedrooms were worlds apart, Jacob's a studious haven of books and papers, Anna's a boudoir of frills and trinkets.

Their marriage was a sham, a pretense maintained for appearances' sake. Jacob, a man of convention and propriety, was content with the façade of a respectable union, while Anna, ever the rebel, chafed against the constraints of their loveless partnership. She sought solace in the arms of others, her affairs as numerous as the stars in the night sky.

Their daughter, Louisey, a child of remarkable beauty and intelligence, was the sole witness to their charade. She observed their interactions with a quiet detachment, her large, dark eyes absorbing the silent drama unfolding before her. Louisey was a paradox, a blend of her parents' contrasting natures. She possessed her father's sharp intellect and her mother's vivacious charm, but she also harbored a deep-seated melancholy that mirrored the emptiness of her parents' lives.

One summer evening, as the sun cast long shadows across the cobblestone streets of Lübeck, Anna Margite Rosa Amelia Jacoby threw a grand garden party. The town's elite gathered in their backyard, sipping champagne and exchanging pleasantries, oblivious to the turmoil simmering beneath the surface.

Louisey wandered through the crowd, a solitary figure amidst the revelry. She overheard snatches of conversations, whispers of her mother's indiscretions, and felt a surge of anger and resentment. She confronted her mother, their voices rising above the din of the party, their words like daggers piercing the façade of their family's carefully constructed illusion.

The party ended abruptly, the guests departing with hurried goodbyes, their faces etched with shock and disapproval. Jacob, his face pale with humiliation, retreated to his study, while Anna Margite Rosa Amelia Jacoby stormed off to her room.

Later that night, as the town lay silent under a blanket of stars, Louisey found herself drawn to her mother's room. She stood outside the door, listening to the muffled sobs coming from within. She felt a pang of sympathy for her mother, recognizing the loneliness and desperation that fueled her reckless behavior.

In that moment of shared vulnerability, Louisey made a decision. She would no longer be a silent observer to her parents' misery. She would intervene, somehow, some way, to break the chains that bound them to a life of unfulfilled dreams and unrequited love.

I leave the very dramatic conclusion Untold.

I hope to post upon at least one more new to me work by Thomas Mann this month