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Manon's World: A Hauntology of a Daughter in the Triangle of Alma Mahler, Walter Gropius and Franz Werfel

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Management number 201809248 Release Date 2025/10/08 List Price $11.69 Model Number 201809248
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James Reidel's Manon's World is a narrative biography and medical history of a haunted young woman caught in a love triangle in interwar Germany. It explores her life and death, revealing a neglected and fascinating life in Vienna, Venice, and Berlin. It also reveals a more complex image of a young woman who desired to be an actress and artist in her own right.

Format: Hardback
Length: 324 pages
Publication date: 17 May 2022
Publisher: Seagull Books London Ltd


Manon Gropius, born in 1916 and passing away in 1935, was a remarkable individual with a complex background. She hailed from a family of notable figures, including Alma Mahler, the widow of Gustav Mahler, and Walter Gropius, the architect and founder of the Bauhaus. Manon also had the privilege of being the stepdaughter of the renowned writer Franz Werfel.

In James Reidel's captivating book, Manon's World, the author delves into the life and untimely demise of a young child who found themselves at the center of a fractured love triangle. This narrative takes a distinctive approach, focusing on a peripheral character while highlighting their profound significance and centrality within the lives of her famous parents and their social circles. Reidel unveils a neglected and fascinating life in the vibrant cities of Vienna, Venice, and Berlin during the interwar years.

Manon's World is not merely a narrative biography; it also serves as a medical history, detailing the polio that ultimately claimed her life. Additionally, it encompasses a personal cultural history, exploring the aspirations that were projected upon her—aspirations that were sometimes perceived as lost by observers such as Elias Canetti, who dedicated two chapters of his Nobel Prize-winning memoirs to his encounters with Manon and her funeral. This event even inspired Alban Berg to dedicate his renowned Violin Concerto to an angel. Through his meticulous research, Reidel presents a more nuanced and intricate portrayal of a young woman who yearned to pursue her own artistic and acting aspirations, despite being her mother's intended protégé, an inspiration to her father, who rarely saw her, and her stepfather Franz Werfel, who obsessively incorporated her into his novels, beginning with The Forty Days of Musa Dagh and continuing throughout his subsequent works.

Manon Gropius's life was a tapestry of contradictions and complexities, reflecting the tumultuous times in which she lived. Her story serves as a reminder of the human condition, where individuals navigate the intricacies of love, ambition, and familial relationships, often against the backdrop of societal and cultural pressures. Manon's World is a testament to the power of storytelling and the enduring legacy of individuals who leave an indelible mark on the world, despite facing adversity and challenges.


Dimension: 229 x 152 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780857427496


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