"This book focuses on Heinrich Mann's representations of Wilhelmine Germany written between 1895 and 1925. In contrast to previous studies that trace the development of Mann's thought, this book divides Mann's earlier writings into two distinct types of narrative: a contemporary commentary at the turn of the century and a historical assessment of the Wilhelmine era after 1918.

In this manner, the early period is not dismissed as a passing phase, but described as part of the discourses circulating in 1890s Germany. The later historical retrospectives, in turn, are compared against the assessments of recent historians. Heinrich Mann: Narratives of Wilhelmine Germany, 1895-1925 emphasizes the role of ideology, literary form, and historical perspective in the construction of history."--BOOK JACKET.