Thomas Mann (1875-1955) passed away on August 12, 1955 at the age of 80. He was an internationally renowned German novelist, short story writer, social critic, philanthropist, and 1929 Nobel Prize winner. He was born in 1875 in Lübeck, Germany, and was one of the most influential and acclaimed figures in German literature in the 20th century. His renowned works included Buddenbrooks, Death in Venice, The Magic Mountain, Doctor Faustus, and also many essays, including the groundbreaking work, Reflections of a Nonpolitical Man. Restlessness and searching characterized Mann’s creative work. Thomas Mann espoused a profound humanism throughout his work, often addressing social and political issues. He was an ardent pacifist, prompting the Nazi government to ban his books. He emigrated with his family to California in 1941, and returned to Switzerland in 1952, where he lived until his death. Thomas Mann is remembered not only as one of the German language’s greatest authors, but as a pioneering public figure whose humanistic values had a lasting impact on his many readers.