"Death in Venice", first published in 1912, centers around Gustav von Aschenbach, a successful German writer who travels to Venice in search of inspiration for his next work.  Aschenbach is a highly disciplined, self-controlled man, but while in Venice, he becomes infatuated with a Polish boy named Tadzio whom he observes on the beach. As the story unfolds, Aschenbach becomes increasingly obsessed with Tadzio, and his infatuation starts to consume his life. He begins to neglect his work and his personal appearance, and his health starts to deteriorate as he becomes increasingly fixated on the boy. At the same time, Venice is experiencing a cholera outbreak. Aschenbach is warned to leave the city, but he is unable to tear himself away from Tadzio. In the end, his obsession leads to his downfall, both physically and spiritually. He dies alone on the beach, watching Tadzio from a distance, as the boy and his family leave Venice. Through Aschenbach's story, Mann explores themes of beauty, desire, and the dangerous power of art, as well as the ways in which we try to deny and repress our deepest desires.

Play sample: 

Download a PDF datasheet