Royal Highness (Cram Edition)

By Thomas Mann and A Cecil Curtis

Book Overview

This XpressRead Cram Edition of Royal Highness pairs the complete original text with carefully prepared study materials, designed for deeper engagement with this classic.

"Royal Highness," by Thomas Mann, offers a captivating glimpse into early 20th-century European court life. This meticulously prepared edition brings to life a classic tale of royalty and the intricacies of courtly existence. Delve into a world where princes navigate duty, love, and the weight of tradition.

A timeless work of literary fiction, "Royal Highness" explores themes of love and power within the context of European history. Experience the grandeur and the constraints of a bygone era, where appearances can be deceiving, and personal desires often clash with affairs of state.

Lovers of historical fiction and classic literature will appreciate this republication, allowing readers to immerse themselves in Mann's evocative portrayal of courts and courtiers. Discover a story that continues to resonate with its elegant prose and timeless observations on the human condition.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1026126517
• ISBN13: 9781026126516
• Release Date: May 2026
• Publisher: Xpresspress
• Length: 398 Pages
• Weight: 1.22 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

My first Thomas Mann-- seems like a good place to start.

I was interested in reading Thomas Mann-- it was a big hole in my knowledge of German literature. A friend of mine who is something in the way of a Mann scholar recommended that I begin with Royal Highness. I loved it. I have seen it compared to a fairy tale, but if so it is a fairy tale for modern times. The Prince is heir to a line of helplessness and theater and the Princess is a railroad heiress driven from US society because of mixed racial heritage. I have also heard the theme of the book described as the US providing the necessary energy and change to a decaying European nation. While that is true, it is also worth bearing in mind that it is only in Europe that the railroad baron can find a place to rid himself of his legacy of exploitation. It is also only in Europe that he finds his daughter can be accepted despite her Native American grandmother. Royal Highness is the optimistic marriage of two cultures which leads to cultural renewal as much as it does a love affair. The Curtis/McNab translation seemed very well done-- it had none of that strange stiffness than can often characterize German prose translated into English. I do not know how this will compare to other Mann books, but it was a big success as a first experience.

Mann's fairy tale

Here is an early Mann work that might be an excellent introduction to those who are interested in his work. It is witty, the story flows naturally and it is much less sombre than many of his later works. The plot centers around a small German town that is a "throwback" to the days of royalty. It maintains a monarch, although the position is mainly just for show. A young Prince is promoted to being a "virtual" monarch when his lazy older brother feels he has better things to do with his time than be king. The Prince, then, does his best to use his "exalted" (albeit symbolic) position to better the quality of life of his people. Unfortunately, the financial ministers of the kingdom are incompetent enough to make the ENRON executives proud with their mis-dealings. For a refreshing look back at 19th (and perhaps early 20th) century Germany, this is a truly wonderful book. Mann's prose is exquisite and he always manages to poke fun at "royalty" in the most subtle ways. So, if you're looking for a fairy tale for grownups, the great Thomas Mann just MIGHT be the place to look!

Not for the Mann novice, but a great book.

Thomas Mann is an excellent author, but if you've never read anything by him before, begin with "Magic Mountain" and "Death in Venice," followed by "Buddenbrooks" and "Felix Krull" before tackling this book. This is Mann's second novel and a bit of a letdown from "Buddenbrooks." Mann uses the literary technique he would later exploit in such marvelous fashion with "Magic Mountain" -- that is, examining a small, isolated part of society as a microcosm of the larger whole, namely Europe.Without giving away any of the surprises, this book is about a rather idealistic female's impact on a small village. Mann poses thoughtful questions about the usefulness of artistic values in a bourgeois society while revealing the inner nuances of his characters as he does so artfully, as in "Buddenbrooks" and "Felix Krull."To top it all off, this Mann novel is probably his most humorous. For those not knowledgable on Mann, he is not readily identifyable for the humour in his works, making this one rather noteworthy.