A Historic Thunderbolt (MM39) (2024) Painting by Noël Van Hoof

Thomas Mann – The Magic Mountain – Part 39

And so there he lay, and once again, as the height of summer came round for the seventh time since his arrival – but he did not count – the year closed on itself.
Then came the rumble of thunder –
But modesty and reserve keep us from turning that thundering rumble into a blustering narrative. No bombast, no rodomontade, here. With appropriately lowered voice, we shall say that the thunderbolt itself (with which we are all familiar) was the deafening detonation of great destructive masses of accumulated stupor and petulance. It was, to speak in subdued, respectful tones, a historic thunderclap that shook the foundations of the earth; but for usit is the thunderbolt that bursts open the magic mountain and rudely sets its entranced sleeper outside the gates. There he sits in the grass, sheepishly rubbing his eyes, like a man who, despite many an admonition, has failed to read the daily papers.

(English translation by John E. Woods)

Related themes

Thomas MannThe Magic MountainDer Zauberberg