Mario and the Magician

<p>Mann&#146;s short stories explore his abiding interest in the split nature of humanity and the discordance of the world it inhabits. In &#145;A Man and his Dog&#146; domestic tempests are symbols of the muddle of humanity. In &#145;The Black Swan&#146; the demands of intellect clash with physical desires. And in &#145;Mario and the Magician&#146; a young family on holiday in Italy encounters a creepy entertainer: Cipolla a hypnotist with a fascist-like will to control his audience.<br><br>Written between 1918 and 1953 this collection shows the literary development of one of Germany&#146;s most important writers.</p>