MANN, HEINRICH. (1871 1950). German novelist and political essayist. ALS. (“Heinrich Mann”). ½p. 4to. Berlin-Wilmersdorf, March 25, 1932. [To LUDWIG LANDMANN, 1868-1945; the first Jewish mayor of Frankfurt, who served from 1924-1933. Landmann died of starvation while hiding from the Nazis in the Netherlands]. In German with translation.

“My dear Lord Mayor,

May I briefly respond to your appreciated letter of 15 February today. In the meantime I have returned and can give you the above address. I would ask for your kindly offered gift of wine to be sent there. I am much obliged to you for such a splendid present. I remain, with the utmost esteem...”

Mann worked for a publisher until becoming financially independent to begin a career as a writer. His best-known novel, Professor Unrath (translated into English with the title, Small Town Tyrant), is the source for the 1930 Josef von Sternberg film, The Blue Angel, starring Marlene Dietrich. Through his writing, Mann was an early spokesman for radical democracy and criticized Germany’s Emperor William II. In 1933, he was forced into exile by the Nazis and lived the rest of his life in France and the United States. Mann and Landmann were involved in the centennial celebration of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s death on March 22, 1932, and perhaps Landmann’s gift to Mann relates to their joint activities.

Folded into quarters and docketed [?] in purple pencil in the lower margin. With some uneven age toning and wear, otherwise in very good condition.