Literary · Classics
The Magic Mountain
Young Hans Castorp visits his cousin at a Swiss tuberculosis sanatorium for three weeks and stays for seven years. Mann uses the sealed mountain world to explore time, illness and the ideas dividing pre-war Europe.
Facts last checked 2026-10-17
- First published
- 1924
- Pace
- Slow
- Length
- Long
- Pages
- 920
- Format
- Book 1 of 2 in Der Zauberberg
Read this if you enjoy long philosophical novels where debate and atmosphere matter more than action.
Skip this if you want brisk storytelling or find extended arguments between characters tiring.
The feel
Content warnings
Quick answers about The Magic Mountain
- What is The Magic Mountain about?
- Young Hans Castorp visits his cousin at a Swiss tuberculosis sanatorium for three weeks and stays for seven years. Mann uses the sealed mountain world to explore time, illness and the ideas dividing pre-war Europe.
- Who should read The Magic Mountain?
- Read it if you enjoy long philosophical novels where debate and atmosphere matter more than action. Skip it if you want brisk storytelling or find extended arguments between characters tiring.
- How long and how fast is The Magic Mountain?
- It is a slow-paced, long read of about 920 pages, first published in 1924.
- Does The Magic Mountain have content warnings?
- Content we flag: Death.
- Can I borrow The Magic Mountain for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends The Magic Mountain; the borrow button above searches it for you.
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|---|---|---|
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