Confessions of Felix Krull, Confidence Man : The Early Years (The Early Years)

Rating:
Summary: A much lighter side to Thomas Mann
Review: In this, the last of Thomas Mann's novels, we see him relaxing, letting his hair down, so to speak. Gone are the philosophical debates of Magic Mountain, the complicated musical discussions of Doctor Faustus, and even the attitude toward decline and decay from Buddenbrooks. This is a book about Felix Krull, a young man who learns early on that life is what he wants it to be. He becomes a `confidence man,' someone who changes his name frequently and acts in a `role' of an identity not his own.

The intriguing thing about Krull is that he is every bit the artist. He is an actor through and through, so good at his trade that he actually becomes (even in his own mind) the character he is portraying. The only difference is that his stage is the world at large. Throughout Felix's early years he deceives various people, steals from a couple of them, takes advantage of others. But Felix is not your typical conman. He seems not to want to hurt anyone, and often goes out of his way to be fair to people. The schemes he does pull he does not consider to be necessarily wrong--in fact, he sees himself acting in an acceptable way. His justification for this is that he is made of `finer clay' than other people.

In Felix we see many of Mann's other characters--Hans Castorp (in his education at the museum in Lisbon), Tonio Kroger (in his musings on the price and toll of being an artist), even Christian or Hanno Buddenbrook in a sense (what they may have been under other circumstances, without familial pressure). Certainly, anyone familiar with Mann's works will notice that most of the themes of this book are familiar, and have been used in other works as well. There really is nothing groundbreaking in Felix Krull--it is rather an enjoyable novel, especially for fans of Mann, that is easy to read and has some good insights in it. It is not his best work, but it is certainly worth the time to read it.

Rating:
Summary: A much lighter side to Thomas Mann
Review: In this, the last of Thomas Mann's novels, we see him relaxing, letting his hair down, so to speak. Gone are the philosophical debates of Magic Mountain, the complicated musical discussions of Doctor Faustus, and even the attitude toward decline and decay from Buddenbrooks. This is a book about Felix Krull, a young man who learns early on that life is what he wants it to be. He becomes a 'confidence man,' someone who changes his name frequently and acts in a 'role' of an identity not his own.

The intriguing thing about Krull is that he is every bit the artist. He is an actor through and through, so good at his trade that he actually becomes (even in his own mind) the character he is portraying. The only difference is that his stage is the world at large. Throughout Felix's early years he deceives various people, steals from a couple of them, takes advantage of others. But Felix is not your typical conman. He seems not to want to hurt anyone, and often goes out of his way to be fair to people. The schemes he does pull he does not consider to be necessarily wrong--in fact, he sees himself acting in an acceptable way. His justification for this is that he is made of 'finer clay' than other people.

In Felix we see many of Mann's other characters--Hans Castorp (in his education at the museum in Lisbon), Tonio Kroger (in his musings on the price and toll of being an artist), even Christian or Hanno Buddenbrook in a sense (what they may have been under other circumstances, without familial pressure). Certainly, anyone familiar with Mann's works will notice that most of the themes of this book are familiar, and have been used in other works as well. There really is nothing groundbreaking in Felix Krull--it is rather an enjoyable novel, especially for fans of Mann, that is easy to read and has some good insights in it. It is not his best work, but it is certainly worth the time to read it.

Rating:
Summary: Herr Mann's Amusing,Whimisical Side!
Review: Many readers associate Tom Mann with being super-erudite,solemn, and a tough read. Check out this book, and you'll learn this great author could be tongue in cheek, hilarious, and downright boisterous. Even more amazing is that he started this novel as young man (though an astoundingly successful and famous one after the phenomenal Buddenbrooks,published at the age of 26!), ands finished it 40 plus years and 2 world wars later, when in his 70's! A young man out to make his mark in the world evades the draft, frolicks with various high class ladies, learns the ins and outs of some mean European city streets, and generally proves himself a rogue of extraordinary powers! There are bits of the standards Mann philosophizing, comments on the Greek Gods,etc, but that is to be expected from this incredible genius of a writer. But for all those Mann doubters out there who stumbled over say, DEATH IN VENICE, MAGIC MOUNTAIN, FAUSTUS etc. give this a try, since this only proves the tasty froth on this vast and distinguished literary cake by the GREATEST 20th Century Author!!!

Rating:
Summary: A Clever and Subtle Masterpiece
Review: The Confessions of Felix Krull, published in the year of Thomas Mann's death, 1955,is a remarkable work of humor and satire. It is hard to believe that it was written by a man in his late 70's. The book had its origins in a fragment published by Mann long before, in 1909, even before Death in Venice, probably his most well known work, at least these days. Perhaps this accounts for the youthful humor mixed with a wisdom and tolerance that a man of the world like Mann attained after a long, eventful and thoughtful life.

Felix Krull is a charmer from the earliest age, a knowing manipulator of his surroundings and even his own body, able to induce fevers by self-will to avoid the boredom of school and bemuse his family doctor into acquiescence. Blessed by astonishing beauty that affects all that come into contact with him and fuels an arrogance and self-confidence that probably would not be tolerated in someone of lesser grace, he is able to insinuate himself up the social ladder into the most rarefied social circles of aristocratic Europe. Through his own wit and the vanities and susceptibilities of his victims, he brazens his way through the most delicate situations.

While it is not necessary to have a familiarity with Mann's life and other works to enjoy this book, such knowledge will add greatly to the fun. There are many autobiographical references and self-caricatures dispersed amongst the characters who knowingly or unknowingly are seduced by the irrepressible Felix and some of the observations and feelings that Felix describes are most definitely those that Mann himself strongly felt.

Recurring motifs throughout Mann's works find expression here. Most striking is the identification of Felix with the Greek god Hermes, here in his aspect of god of thieves. Look back to Death in Venice and see how Mann uses the god Hermes in reference to Tadzio, especially at the end when Aschenbach lies dying and Tadzio as Hermes, the messenger of death, beckons in the waves. For who is Felix but a more grown, more self-aware Tadzio? But instead of death, Felix brings smiles. After all, as he is quick to point out "Felix" means "happy."

Rating:
Summary: Witty, but Lacking Other
Review: The story follows the career of a young man, naturally embued with a handsome frame, a fine mind, and little in the way of morals. Through no particular effort on his own part, he somehow simply becomes a con-artist as people give him money or gifts simply because of his possessing a handsome frame and fine mind.

Now, while I cannot say this is a bad novel, for it is a head above most any other novel of the modern day, I cannot give this book a terribly high mark. The text itself is written quite skillfully, but the story is lacking and in order for me to rate a book highly it must be fully developed in both of these arenas. The problem is that, as said, the story follows the career of this young man. It watches him go from one thing to another and generally go about his life. Unfortunately, even the most exciting of persons is not doing too much of interest ninety percent of the time, and this shows. Eventually, one ends up with a story that, unless one is particularly impressed by infamy, is really fairly boring.

This is a good book, but to read it after having read such works as "The Red and the Black" by Stendhal or "Scaramouche" by Sabatini, it becomes quite clear that a sardonic text is not all that is required to write a great novel.

Rating:
Summary: comes in like a lion, goes out like a lamb
Review: This book is like an ocean liner holed beneath the waterline at several points but with effective bulkheads. Although seriously flawed the leakage is contained and the ship stays afloat.

Perhaps the problem is the ship's construction was never completed. Thomas Mann was clacking away at the typewriter just before his death at the age of 80, and more surprising than the fact that the novel remained unfinished is the fact that the narrative voice is that of a smug young man, a charlatan who has decided to regale us with a glib account of his early career.

Because of the necessarily episodic nature of such a fly-by-night career, the story resolves itself into a series of loosely-connected episodes.This is definitely fortunate as some of the episodes are of incomparable brilliance while others are heavy going. In a story with more unity this would have the effect of sinking the whole ship, but compartmentalized as they are, we are able to enjoy Mann's purple passages without too much reference to the episodes that don't work.

The episodes where Felix evades military service and the whole section where he recounts his Parisian days as elevator boy, jewel thief, dishwasher, and popular waiter at a top hotel, were particularly effective, showing Mann's deft touch for entwining character, psychology, and manners.

After these bright spots, most readers will probably feel the last third of the novel, mainly set in Lisbon, is wasted. Here we have a lot of cosmic gobbledygook from Professor Kuckuck and the tedious courtship of the Professor's daughter, Zouzou, who never advances beyond an abstraction of a surly, spoilt young lady. There is still the occasional speck of gold to be panned here in these muddy lower reaches, but the river has by now lost most of its sparkle.

Rating:
Summary: Delightful!
Review: This is a wonderfully eloquent autobiography of a wonderfully arrogant young man. It's so artful and creative, you'd think it was nonfiction. I highly recommend it.

The only reason I give it 4 stars instead of 5 is because toward the end, I found it got kind of boring when I thought it was about to get really interesting. It also ends abruptly, demanding a sequel, which there is not. But I won't spoil it by giving anything away.

For a good read, read Felix Krull!

Rating:
Summary: Mann in a humorous vein
Review: This picaresque novel of adventure by the writer of such
ponderous masterpieces as The Magic Mountain is one of my
favorite books.

Many readers who come to it after Buddenbrooks or Tonio Kroeger
note the parallels Mann felt existed between the artist and
the confidence man. In Tonio Kroeger, the eponymous central
character has an encounter in his home town where he's mistaken
briefly for a con man. In the earlier story, it's an incident
full of irony. In Felix Krull, Mann turns that theme on its
head and plays it as a burlesque.

The elegance and suavity of the writing, captured well by
the Lindley translation, are both a pleasure to read, and
an analogue for the well-oiled confidence skills of the
first person narrator. It's helpful to remember that we
are being told "true confessions" by a man who has made
his way in life by taking people in.

Another feature of the work, not often commented on, is
the element of parody. Mann wrote the book with one eye,
as it were, on the great German picaresque novel by
Hans von Grimmelshausen, Simplicius Simplicisimus. Krull's
travails, talents, and successes are at times a humorous
transposition of those in Grimmelshausen's work.

Because the book was started back in 1911, and reflects on
a period 20 or more years earlier, it's a historical time
capsule of sorts. This might annoy some readers; for others,
it grants the work a certain period charm.

Finally, we should remember that the work is incomplete. This
was intended to be the first part of a full-dress fictional
memoir. Had he lived longer, Mann might have written 2 more
volumes. The result is that the book is a bright fragment rather
than a fully realized work of art. We're left to imagine what
the remainder of Felix Krull's adventures might have been like.
A pity we'll never know. I, for one, am happy with what Mann
was able to bequeath us. I feel almost as if he left me a
legacy.

Rating:
Summary: An Irresistible Adventure
Review: This was the last book written by Thomas Mann and it's certainly a masterpiece of German literature. The antithesis of a hero, the impostor Felix Krull has no respect for any moral law. Not only was he a rebel since his youth, but also a cynical and disguised person.His confessions are made up of the finest humour, irony and sarcasm ever written and the events are so surprising that it's impossible to predict what he will be up to next. Although the book remained unfinished, the plot provides us with great amusement and, at the same time, it offers an interesting portrait of the European bourgeoisie at the turn of this century

Rating:
Summary: A small masterpiece about the reality of illusion.
Review: Those who know Thomas Mann for his weightier books will be surprised to see how light this short novel is.

Felix Krull is a "Con Man." This book recounts his early years, from early childhood, through his ingenious method of avoiding being drafted into the army, to his initial jobs. He avoids the army by appearing too eager to join, thus inducing suspicion regarding his mental stability. He works his way up by recognizing that having a good appearance and a willing attitude more than compensates for lack of experience or ability. Being a confidence man requires supreme self-confidence and Felix has that in abundance.

For me the pivotal scene is when Felix is taken to the theater by his father to see a play in which one of the father's old school chums is starring. Felix is captivated by the magnetic attraction between audience and star. This is made even greater by the back stage visit he and his father make after the show. The star turns out to be much shorter than he appeared to be, with reddish hair instead of black, and rough skin instead of the smooth skin he appeared to have. His manner is coarse, not like the refined character he portrayed. Topping it off, he is in need of continuous reassurance that he did a good job, whereas the character he played was supremely confident and poised. This is the key to Felix's realization that for most of the world illusion is reality, and that the illusionist needs the audience just as the audience needs the illusionist.

Whether Mann had a sequel planned is uncertain. We do leave Felix as a young man, wondering what his further adventures and potential growth might have been.

As it is, this is a delightful story with a profound subtext. Are there any people like Felix around today?