The Magic Mountain (Der Zauberberg)

*The Magic Mountain* by Thomas Mann is a philosophical novel set in a Swiss tuberculosis sanatorium, exploring themes of time, illness, and the nature of life and death. Through the experiences of Hans Castorp, a young man visiting his sick cousin, the story delves into intellectual debates about politics, religion, and philosophy encountered with fellow patients and staff. The sanatorium becomes a microcosm of European society, prompting reflection on modernity, mortality, and the quest for meaning amid existential uncertainty. Mann's work is a profound meditation on human consciousness and the complexities of modern life.